Rubio vows diplomatic push to end Russia-Ukraine conflict
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that ending the war between Russia and Ukraine would become the official policy of the United States under President Donald Trump. He added that both sides - Moscow and Kyiv - must make concessions.
Rubio admitted that resolving the conflict will require considerable efforts, emphasising that Moscow and Kyiv will ultimately "have to make concessions."
"Tough" diplomatic work
He noted that such crises will not be resolved through loud public statements but require "tough diplomatic work", which the US is ready to undertake.
According to the Secretary of State, the agreement, which will form the basis for ending the war, should not only put an end to "killing, death, and destruction" but also "ensure long-term peace in Ukraine and the security of Kyiv and other US allies in Europe."
Before taking office as Secretary of State, Marco Rubio was a member of the Senate since 2011. He is known for his numerous initiatives to impose sanctions against Russia. In 2014, after the annexation of Crimea, Rubio proposed disconnecting Russian banks from the SWIFT system, and in January 2022, shortly before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he again proposed similar ideas.
Called Putin a gangster and an oppressor
He also introduced personal sanctions against Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking Russian officials. Rubio has repeatedly spoken harshly about the Russian president, calling him a "gangster" and an "oppressor," and has also advocated for Russia's diplomatic isolation.
After Donald Trump won the elections in the autumn of 2024, Rubio, who was then the deputy chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that the war in Ukraine had reached a stalemate and needed to be ended. He emphasised the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people while also noting that striving to end the conflict does not in any way imply sympathy for Vladimir Putin.
