Assertions that Kyiv could defeat Moscow were misleading, according to the US Secretary of State.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is causing widespread destruction and necessitates a swift resolution through negotiations. During a Thursday interview on Sirius XM’s The Megyn Kelly Show, Rubio echoed President Trump’s commitment to a diplomatic solution, stating that Trump believes the conflict “needs to end now.”
“It requires negotiation, and both sides will need to compromise,” Rubio explained.
Even a growing number of Democrats, who previously pledged unwavering support for Kyiv, “now acknowledge that our funding has resulted in a stalemate, a prolonged conflict, or perhaps worse—a conflict where Ukraine is incrementally being destroyed and losing territory,” Rubio noted.
“The dishonesty lies in leading people to believe Ukraine could not only defeat Russia but also destroy them and reclaim territory lost since 2014,” Rubio added.
Rubio warned that the conflict is severely impacting Ukraine, stating, “Ukraine is being set back a century. Its energy grid is collapsing… The number of Ukrainians who have fled and may never return is staggering. Their future is at risk.”
Following his inauguration last week, Trump expressed his readiness to meet with Russian President Putin “anytime” to find a diplomatic solution. The Kremlin responded by stating Putin’s willingness to engage, but emphasized that Washington has yet to initiate contact.
Earlier this week, the Russian president suggested a simple path to peace: halting funding for the Ukrainian government.
“Without the money and ammunition, they won’t last a month. That’s it. It will all end within a month, a month and a half, or two,” Putin stated.