Rubio Pledges to End War in Ukraine as Key US Foreign Policy Goal

WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Alliance News): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday reaffirmed that ending Russia’s war in Ukraine would be a central focus of US foreign policy under President Donald Trump, aiming to prioritize peace and stability worldwide.

Rubio, a former US senator and strong advocate for Israel and a tough stance on China, was the first of Trump’s cabinet nominees to be sworn into office after receiving unanimous Senate confirmation on Monday evening.

Additional confirmation votes for Trump’s nominees are expected this week.

In his confirmation hearing last week, Rubio suggested that both Moscow and Kyiv would need to make concessions to bring the war to an end.

He speculated that Ukraine may need to concede its goal of regaining all territory seized by Russia over the last decade.

Rubio echoed these comments in an interview with NBC’s “Today” show before the swearing-in ceremony, affirming, “It’s going to be the official policy of the United States that the war has to end, and we’re going to do everything possible to bring that about.”

Former President Joe Biden, who heavily supported Ukraine with military aid after Russia’s 2022 invasion, has stated it is up to Ukraine to determine the timing of peace talks.

However, Rubio emphasized that resolving the conflict will require difficult diplomacy. He explained, “The only way conflicts like this end is through hard, vibrant diplomacy.”

A Republican and long-time member of the Senate’s foreign relations and intelligence committees, Rubio has a reputation for advocating stringent policies against Cuba and its allies, particularly Venezuela.

Following his swearing-in, Rubio expressed his commitment to advancing Trump’s foreign policy objectives, focused on securing US national interests, promoting peace through strength, and adhering to core values.