Marco Rubio perfectly demonstrated the US’s inconsistent messaging over Ukraine in a one-minute interview.

Donald Trump has vowed to end the Ukraine war as soon as possible and has frequently suggested Kyiv bow to Russia’s demands – even though Moscow started the conflict by invading its European neighbour.

Pressed over how the trilateral talks are going on Friday, the US’s top diplomat initially accused Volodymyr Zelenskyy of misrepresenting America’s stance in the ongoing negotiations.

In his next answer, he appeared to prove the Ukrainian president right.

Asked if American security guarantees for Ukraine after the war were dependent on the country giving up the eastern Donbas territory, Rubio immediately slapped it down.

He told reporters: “That’s a lie. I saw him [Zelenskyy] say that and it’s unfortunate that he would say that because he knows it’s not true and that’s not what he was told.”

“Security guarantees are not going to kick in until there’s an end to the war because otherwise you’re getting yourself involved in the war,” Rubio insisted.

“It’s a truce that you’re willing to step in and secure. If you’re putting that in place, that means you’re injecting yourself in the war.”

He said the guarantees were not attached to giving up the Donbas, adding: “I don’t know why he says these things, they’re just not true.”

Rubio said: “We’ve told the Ukrainian side what the Russians are insisting on.

“We’re not advocating for it, we explained it to them. It’s their choice to make. It’s not for us to make. We never told them to take it or leave it.

“The role we have played is to try and figure out what both sides want and to try and reach a middle ground.”

But, in the next breath, he suggests the war will only end – meaning, Ukraine will only get US security guarantees, if it concedes to Russian wishes.

Rubio said: “The decision ultimately is up to Ukraine, if they don’t want to make concessions, then the war keeps going.”

Zelenskyy told Reuters that questions remain around the security guarantees Ukraine could receive once the war ends, such as how allies would respond in the face of future Russian aggression and who would help to fund the country’s weapons purchase to sustain its military deterrent.

He added that the US will finalise questions “once Ukraine is ready to withdrawfrom Donbas”, which is one of Vladimir Putin’s maximalist demands – but that is a red line for Kyiv.

“I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees,” Zelenskyy said.