Rubio: No prospects for ending war in Ukraine through negotiations
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
There are currently no prospects for resolving the war in Ukraine through negotiations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with the Greek Kathimerini.
According to him, Russia's war against Ukraine has reached "a strategic stalemate," which can only be resolved either through negotiations or through escalation.
Rubio acknowledged that US diplomatic efforts are failing because Russia is demanding full control over Donbas, while Ukraine rejects these demands.
"Right now, there don’t seem to be prospects of a negotiated settlement. We are prepared to play whatever role we can in making that happen. And we have tried in the past, but so far it’s been elusive. The Russians have defined victory as the totality of Donetsk; they’ve repeatedly stated that as their goal and they continue to state that as their goal. And that’s a condition that, for Ukraine, is simply unacceptable," he said.
The Secretary of State assured that the US is ready to continue to play a "constructive role" in achieving a diplomatic solution. He also expressed concern over the possible escalation of the war.
"Just yesterday, some ships were attacked in the Black Sea through a coordinated drone attack. We’re worried about a sabotage operation in a neighboring country that can spiral out of control," Rubio said.
According to him, there are clear signs that Russia intends to take advantage of the approaching winter to destroy Ukraine's power grid and force it to capitulate.
The US Secretary of State also emphasized that Ukraine, for its part, has strengthened its ability to carry out long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.
"We share the same concern. The whole world is going about this thing like something that could escalate and perhaps become a broader conflict. So, we stand prepared to facilitate and continue to explore any opportunity for a negotiated settlement. We think it would be good for Russia and Ukraine, but so far, it’s proving elusive," Rubio added.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already stated that the US wants to play a constructive role in ending the war in Ukraine, but that the situation is currently moving in the opposite direction.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin recently said that the proposal for a mutual halt to strikes between Ukraine and Russia was "absurd."
