US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Russia’s war in Ukraine has reached a dangerous stalemate, while stressing that Washington will continue efforts to secure a lasting negotiated settlement.
“We’d love to see a negotiated settlement to this war that is permanent, enduring, and fair. And that’s what we’re committed to continuing to do,” Rubio told reporters on Thursday during a visit to Portugal.
The Trump administration has sought in recent weeks to revive negotiations aimed at ending the four-year conflict, Europe’s bloodiest war since World War Two.
Ukrainian negotiators are due to visit the United States for talks on Friday and Saturday.
Rubio warns of wider regional conflict
Rubio said the conflict’s continued escalation could eventually spread beyond Ukraine and draw neighboring NATO members into a broader confrontation.
“That escalation could wind up being a sabotage campaign in neighboring countries that are members of NATO,” he said, warning that other developments “could quickly turn what is a war between two countries into a much broader and far more dangerous regional conflict.”
Drone attacks by Russia and Ukraine have increasingly extended beyond traditional military targets, hitting energy facilities, refineries, ports and vessels carrying oil and grain.
More recently, attacks have also targeted e-commerce warehouses and data centres.
Washington to keep pushing for talks
Rubio said the United States wants the war to end through negotiations but acknowledged that Washington’s diplomatic efforts depend on tangible progress.
“This war needs to end in a negotiated settlement. The sooner, the better,” he said.
“The United States stands ready to facilitate that. We have tried. We will continue to try. But we’re also not going to invest in pointless processes if we can’t make progress,” Rubio added.
The upcoming talks with Ukrainian negotiators come as Washington seeks to determine whether renewed diplomatic efforts can produce a path toward ending the fighting while avoiding further escalation.
