The seriousness of Russia’s intent to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine will be evident in a “matter of weeks,” Secretary of State Macro Rubio informed reporters on Friday.

“The Russians are aware of our stance on ending the war. Their forthcoming responses will reveal quickly whether they are genuinely pursuing peace or simply employing a delay tactic,” Rubio stated at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Speculation is growing about Moscow’s genuine willingness to engage with the Trump administration, especially after rejecting a 30-day ceasefire initiated by Ukraine in early March, and later, demanding sanctions be lifted in exchange for a Black Sea ceasefire.

President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the first day of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. (Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

“I guess it’s part of the game,” Rubio said. “At the end of the day, what’s going to matter here is whether we’re going to move towards peace or not.”

Rubio reiterated that Ukraine and Russia would both need to make concessions to end the war but declined to say what those should be, insisting those details should emerge through negotiations.

“Initially, it was important to talk [to the Russians] because we haven’t talked to them in a long time. But now we’ve reached the stage [where] we need to make progress,” he said, noting it will be “hard,” but he remains “optimistic.”

“There are some promising signs. There are some troubling signs. It’s not going to be easy. No one ever said this would be easy, but we’re going to find out sooner rather than later,” Rubio told reporters. “And let’s just say I’m hopeful. I remain hopeful.”