A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS)

During a meeting on Tuesday with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Rubio argued that such a move would be a significant step toward ending the nearly four-year-long conflict in Ukraine.

Rubio’s renewed appeal comes at a moment when US President Donald Trump has granted an exception to Hungary, also a NATO member, authorizing the continuation of its oil and gas trade with Russia. During Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to the White House on Sunday, Trump accepted Budapest’s request, citing the country’s difficulty in finding alternative supplies.

Rubio also discussed with his Turkish counterpart the situation in Gaza and the next steps toward a cease-fire and long-term peace for the region. Turkey and the US reaffirmed their support for a US-mediated peace agreement and their shared desire for lasting stability in Gaza.