In a recent statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that after three years and billions of dollars spent supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, the U.S. must start focusing on other important issues.
While Rubio acknowledged the importance of resolving the situation in Ukraine, he emphasized that the United States can’t stay involved indefinitely without seeing tangible progress.
“We’ve spent three years, billions of dollars supporting the Ukrainian side, and – but now we’ve reached the point where we have other things we have to focus on,” Rubio said.
He further clarified that the U.S. was prepared to remain engaged, but if no real progress is made soon, the country will need to pivot its attention elsewhere.
Is a Peace Deal Possible? The U.S. to Evaluate Progress
Rubio also mentioned that the U.S. would soon assess whether a settlement could realistically be reached in the near future.
If the outlook remains bleak, President Donald Trump plans to refocus on other top priorities.
According to Rubio, the U.S. needs clarity soon, as the country’s attention is needed for pressing domestic and international concerns beyond Ukraine.
“President Trump feels strongly that we’ve done more in 80 days than President Biden did during his entire term to bring this war to an end,” Rubio said.
“We’ve dedicated almost the entirety of the President’s first 100 days to this effort. If it’s going to happen, we want to help.
But if it’s not, we need to move on because we have other matters to address.”
U.S. May Step Back from Mediating Peace Talks
The Secretary of State also suggested that the U.S. may end its role as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine unless there are clear signs that a peace agreement is within reach.
This statement came after Rubio’s meetings with European and Ukrainian representatives in Paris.
Rubio emphasized that while President Trump is eager to see peace in the region, his administration has many other important issues to tackle.
“I think the President feels strongly that if progress isn’t made soon, we will have to reevaluate our role,” Rubio said.
“We’re committed to helping, but we also need to focus on other areas that demand our attention.”
French and U.S. Leaders Discuss Ukraine’s Future in Paris
The day prior, French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside Rubio and President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, met in Paris to discuss the ongoing Ukraine crisis.
The Ukrainian delegation, which included top officials like Andriy Yermak and Andriy Sybiha, also engaged in talks with representatives from a coalition of 30 countries, including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
The discussions centered on how to bring the conflict to a peaceful resolution.
Following the talks, the U.S. State Department confirmed that Rubio’s peace framework had been positively received in Paris, adding that Rubio had shared updates on the negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
European Involvement in the Peace Talks Grows
The French government described the talks as “constructive” and noted that European countries, particularly the UK, France, and Germany, are increasingly involved in shaping the peace process.
While the U.S. has played a significant role in mediating discussions, it appears that Europe is playing a more active part in pushing forward a resolution.
About Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio Rubio, born May 27, 1971, is an American politician and diplomat who became the 72nd United States Secretary of State in 2025.
A member of the Republican Party, Rubio served as a U.S. Senator for Florida from 2011 to 2025 and ran for President in the 2016 Republican primary elections.
A Cuban American from Miami, Rubio has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami and has held various political roles, including speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
In his role as Secretary of State, Rubio also serves as acting administrator of USAID and as the acting archivist of the United States.
His experience in both domestic and international policy has shaped his approach to the ongoing situation in Ukraine and beyond.