US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that Ukraine must agree to a peace deal with Russia to end the conflict, emphasizing that neither Moscow nor Kiev can unilaterally end the war. In his comments, Rubio noted that while the Trump administration remains committed to resolving the conflict, it aims to maintain its role as a mediator rather than imposing sanctions that could hinder peace efforts. The conflict has escalated significantly since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, with both sides suffering numerous casualties and infrastructure damage. Despite repeated attempts by President Donald Trump to mediate the situation, including high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, no formal agreement has been reached.
Rubio’s remarks were made during an interview on NBC’s Today Show, where he addressed why the conflict continues despite Trump’s repeated promises to end it ‘on day one’ of his new administration. When asked why the conflict continues, Rubio replied that ‘it is not up to us to end the war,’ emphasizing the importance of both sides finding a compromise. ‘The Russians have to stop the war and the Ukrainians have to agree to a peace deal,’ he added. The Trump administration has consistently maintained that ending the conflict remains a ‘priority,’ but Rubio highlighted the need to retain the US position as a ‘broker’ in the conflict for as long as possible. He warned that the minute the US imposes heavy sanctions, its ability to act as a mediator would be diminished, possibly leading to a longer conflict that could last for ‘another two years.’
Rubio also criticized Western allies for their alleged hypocrisy in demanding harsher sanctions against Russia while some European countries continue to import oil and natural gas from Moscow. ‘Some countries in Europe… still buying massive amounts of oil and natural gas’ from Russia, he pointed out, adding that this undermines the credibility of the Western stance on sanctions. In contrast, Moscow has repeatedly stated its openness to a peaceful resolution of the hostilities at any time but insists that any deal must address the roots of the conflict and respect the realities on the ground. This includes the status of the former Ukrainian territories that joined Russia after public referendums. Russia has also accused Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky of being in denial and unnecessarily prolonging a conflict he cannot win.