US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that both Ukraine and Russia will need to make concessions to reach a peace deal and end the ongoing war.

Rubio's comments come amid reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has set a condition for ending Moscow's war with Ukraine, requiring Kyiv to hand over the eastern Donbas region to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously ruled out giving up any territory for peace.

Rubio indicated that the US would continue to do everything it could to help Ukraine and Russia reach an agreement, but also cautioned that it might not be possible for Washington to engineer a scenario to end the war that has been raging for over three years.

"If peace is not going to be possible here, and this is just going to continue on as a war, people will continue to die by the thousands. We may unfortunately wind up there, but we don't want to wind up there," Rubio said in an interview with the "Face the Nation" show.

Marco Rubio also warned of ‘additional consequences’ for Russia if a peace deal is not reached.

Regional Perspective

US Senator Marco Rubio's statement emphasizes the necessity of mutual concessions between Russia and Ukraine for peace, highlighting the complex geopolitical challenges in Eastern Europe. The US's willingness to mediate, while acknowledging the difficulty of achieving a comprehensive solution, reflects a cautious diplomatic approach amidst the ongoing conflict.

Analysis

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks suggest that the path to peace between Russia and Ukraine necessitates genuine concessions from both sides. Putin's reference to Donbas as a key condition, coupled with Zelenskyy's refusal to cede territory, presents a significant hurdle for any negotiation. Rubio's call for the US to continue diplomatic efforts, while acknowledging limitations, underscores the importance of sustained pressure for de-escalation. However, the threat of 'additional consequences' for Russia if a peace settlement is not reached could potentially lead to further escalation rather than facilitating peace. Additionally, President Trump's comments about 'big progress' ahead of his meeting with Zelenskyy, with European leaders in attendance, indicate an attempt at a unified Western front, but the details of these discussions need to be followed to ascertain if they lead to actual breakthroughs.