There are currently no prospects for ending war in Ukraine through negotiations, - Rubio
Russia's war against Ukraine is entering its fifth year, and a negotiated settlement remains out of reach for now. At the same time, the risk of escalation is growing, which could go beyond the current conflict and affect other countries.
According to Censor.NET, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated this in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.
"We now find ourselves in a strategic impasse that is fraught with danger. Strategic impasses can be resolved in only two ways: either through negotiations or through escalation by one or both sides, which ultimately goes beyond the scope of the original conflict," Rubio emphasized.
He added that diplomatic efforts are failing because Russia demands full control over the Donbas, while Ukraine rejects these demands.
"At this point, there are no prospects for a negotiated settlement. We are ready to play whatever role we can to achieve this. We have already tried to do so in the past, but this goal remains out of reach because the Russians are demanding full control over the Donbas, which Ukraine rejects as unacceptable," the diplomat said.
The U.S. fears an escalation of the war
Rubio assured that the United States remains ready to "play a constructive role in achieving a diplomatic solution." At the same time, he expressed concern about a possible escalation of the war.
"Just yesterday, there were new attacks on ships in the Black Sea in the form of a coordinated attack using unmanned aerial vehicles. We are concerned about the possibility of a sabotage operation in a neighboring country that could spiral out of control," the secretary of state said.
Russia may try to destroy Ukraine's power grid this winter
Rubio also stated that there are signs that Russia is preparing for a new campaign against Ukraine's energy sector.
According to him, Russia intends to use the coming winter to destroy what remains of Ukraine's power grid and force the country to surrender.
At the same time, Ukraine has strengthened its ability to launch long-range strikes deep into Russian territory, which also poses additional risks of further escalation.
The Secretary of State emphasized that the United States is ready to help explore opportunities for a negotiated settlement, should such an opportunity arise.
"If there is an opportunity to resolve the issue through negotiations, we sincerely believe that this will be good for both Russia and Ukraine," Rubio added.
