U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will decide "fairly soon" whether to allow a new round of sanctions on Russia to take effect this week, adding that an announcement could come later Wednesday. Rubio spoke after a phone call with special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is returning from Moscow. He emphasized that the final decision rests with President Donald Trump, who is expected to reach a conclusion within the next 24-36 hours. Rubio reported limited progress in efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, saying U.S. officials now have a clearer understanding of Moscow’s conditions for peace. A cease-fire remains essential, yet significant territorial disputes still block a settlement. A Trump–Putin phone call is under consideration but not scheduled, and Rubio cautioned that "a lot has to happen" before any face-to-face meeting involving Trump, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy can occur.