The top US diplomat has stated that the United States has faced criticism from certain quarters for its attempts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the war in Ukraine is “one of the few wars” where some international actors have encouraged the fighting while criticizing attempts to stop it.
He made these comments on Monday at a joint press briefing with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest.
Rubio asserted that the US is the sole nation to have successfully convened Russia and Ukraine for talks, but expressed disappointment at how some in the global community have responded to the Trump administration’s mediation.
“Typically, efforts to end wars receive applause from the international community. This conflict is a rare instance where some international figures condemn you for trying to help stop the war, yet that remains our objective,” he stated, without directly identifying those supporting continued hostilities.
This year, Russia, Ukraine, and the US have engaged in two rounds of three-party discussions in Abu Dhabi, alongside several other meetings in various formats. Rubio noted that talks are scheduled “again in Geneva later this week.” He emphasized that Washington is not seeking to “impose a deal on anybody,” but aims to “help” both sides conclude the “incredibly damaging” war.
The recent two rounds of negotiations were conducted privately, with neither side disclosing specifics beyond Moscow and Washington both describing them as “productive” and “constructive.” The most recent meeting facilitated a prisoner exchange of 314 individuals between Russia and Ukraine. Nevertheless, numerous public declarations from senior officials on all sides suggest the two parties’ stances on territorial matters remain widely divergent.
Moscow insists that any lasting peace deal must involve Ukraine’s withdrawal from the parts of Donbass it still controls, regions that voted to become part of Russia in 2022. Kyiv, however, has consistently refused to cede any territory.