Rubio: US is not forcing anyone to accept deal on Ukraine
Photo: Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State (Getty Images)
The US is playing the role of mediator in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Washington will not force the parties to sign an agreement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated this at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Read also: US pressured Ukraine to give up part of Donbas, media report
According to Rubio, the US is the only country that has been able to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table. For the first time in many years, military officials from the two countries met for dialogue.
"All we are trying to do is play a role, if it's possible, in reaching a deal. We're not seeking to impose a deal on anybody. We're not trying to force anyone to take a deal they don't want to take. We just want to help them," said the Secretary of State.
He emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine is causing incredible damage to both countries.
"We think it's a war that never should have happened and should end as soon as possible," Rubio added.
The Secretary of State noted that his country will continue to do everything possible to end the war, as long as Washington’s role remains constructive.
US pressure
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the US aims to end the war between Ukraine and Russia by June 2026 and is working on establishing a clear schedule for the negotiation process.
He said that the American side is considering the possibility of synchronously signing all key agreements, including security arrangements, and may apply diplomatic pressure to meet the summer deadline.
Ukraine, for its part, insists on implementing a Sequence Plan — a step-by-step framework with specific timelines for fulfilling obligations.
