"Our goal is to end this war as soon as possible but we need a little bit more of time."

"We've really moved forward. So I feel very optimistic that we're going to get there in a reasonable period of time, very soon. Whether it's Thursday, it's Friday (...) we want it to be soon. Because between today and the time we deal with this, more people are going to die."

"But I think what they heard, and I hope they'll confirm, is an incredible amount of positivity from the Ukrainian and the American side about the progress we made today."

Rubio says he briefed European security advisors about the talks with Ukraine. (Europeans were not in the room.)

"We assured them that items that involved both Europe and NATO directly (are) items that we sorta agreed to put as part of a separate track because it involves input from them."

Rubio says the work will continue (not in Geneva) at technical level "full time."

"This is an ongoing process."

"Obviously, the Russians get a vote here," Rubio says. "No matter what we came up with today, we'll have to (take it) to the Russian side. That's a part of this equation. They have to agree to this in order for this to work."

Rubio insists the plan is a "living document" and "ongoing process" and warns that just because it's written on paper doesn't mean it's final.

"I'm not going to speculate," he says. "I feel very optimistic that we can get something done here."

Rubio refrains from specifying which issues remain open. He says some of them are "semantics" and others require "high-level consultations."

But he's confident that the differences with Ukraine will be resolved.

"Because this continues to be work in progress, I don't want to declare victory or finality. But we're much farther ahead this time than when we began this morning."

Rubio says the final decision will have to be taken at presidential level, meaning Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin.

“That is why we work so carefully on every point, on every step toward peace. Everything must work out the right way – so that this war is truly ended and so that it does not happen again.”

"We will continue our work together with Ukraine, our Member States, the Coalition of the Willing and the US to make real progress towards peace. What is important is that we move forward as partners, on a single track."

Full statement.

"Ukraine must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny. They have chosen a European destiny. It starts with the country's reconstruction, its integration into our Single Market and our defence industrial base, and ultimately, joining our Union."