US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the next week will be crucial for reaching a peace agreement aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.
According to NBC News, Rubio stressed that Ukraine and Russia are now closer to a peace agreement than at any point in the last three years, noting that an agreement should be finalized in the near future.
Rubio explained that the United States has avoided imposing new sanctions on Russia in an effort to create more favorable conditions for negotiations. He warned that any action that would hinder dialogue could lead to two more years of war, a scenario the United States wants to avoid.
“Every time you start taking other actions, you’re condemning yourself to two more years of war, and we don’t want that to happen,” Rubio said. He also noted that the U.S. is the only party currently engaged in dialogue with both sides, highlighting Washington’s unique role in this ongoing diplomatic process.
In a similar context, US President Donald Trump, during Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican, assured Estonian President Alar Karis that the United States would remain engaged in peace negotiations for Ukraine, adding that the parties were "very close" to a resolution, according to Estonian media.