Trump's Choice for State Department Offers Ukraine Reality Check
Marco Rubio has stated that the new US government ought to resolve the conflict between Kiev and Moscow rather than providing support to just one side without a clear strategy. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
In a recent Senate hearing, Marco Rubio criticized the lack of a defined objective in U.S. funding for Ukraine. The Florida senator, nominated to be the secretary of state in President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming administration, asserted that it is unrealistic to expect Ukraine to win against Russia and called for a reevaluation of indefinite support for Kiev.
During his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday as part of his confirmation process, Rubio emphasized that the primary goal should be to end the conflict. “I think it should be the official position of the United States that this war should be brought to an end,” he stated.
Rubio expressed skepticism about both sides achieving complete victory, asserting, “There is no way Russia takes all of Ukraine. That’s not going to happen.” He continued, “There’s no way Ukraine is also going to push these people all the way back to where they were,” highlighting the disparities in the size and population of the two nations.
Pointing out Ukraine’s challenges, Rubio remarked that the country isn’t just facing a financial crisis, but rather a depletion of its population. “Running out of Ukrainians,” he noted, is a serious concern, as millions have emigrated amid the devastation of the country’s infrastructure and economy, which he estimated will take decades and hundreds of billions of dollars to reconstruct.
Since February 2022, the U.S. Congress has allocated nearly $175 billion in aid to Ukraine, with approximately $65 billion designated for direct military assistance. However, Rubio pointed out that the previous administration failed to clearly articulate the end goals of the conflict. “What exactly were we funding? What exactly were we putting money towards? On many occasions, it sounded like ‘however much it takes for however long it takes.’ That is not a realistic or prudent position,” he remarked.
Rubio acknowledged the complexities involved in negotiating peace, stating that it would require “hard work” and “bold diplomacy,” with both Ukraine and Russia needing to make concessions. He emphasized, “It’s also important that there be some balance on both sides. In essence, it will be difficult to achieve this objective of a ceasefire and ultimately a peace settlement unless both sides have leverage.”
Currently, Ukraine has prohibited any negotiations with Russia while President Vladimir Putin remains in power. Russia, on the other hand, has expressed its willingness to engage in discussions, but insists that any resolution must ensure that Ukraine becomes a neutral, demilitarized, and "denazified" state that respects the rights of Russian speakers and acknowledges territorial changes on the ground.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
During his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday as part of his confirmation process, Rubio emphasized that the primary goal should be to end the conflict. “I think it should be the official position of the United States that this war should be brought to an end,” he stated.
Rubio expressed skepticism about both sides achieving complete victory, asserting, “There is no way Russia takes all of Ukraine. That’s not going to happen.” He continued, “There’s no way Ukraine is also going to push these people all the way back to where they were,” highlighting the disparities in the size and population of the two nations.
Pointing out Ukraine’s challenges, Rubio remarked that the country isn’t just facing a financial crisis, but rather a depletion of its population. “Running out of Ukrainians,” he noted, is a serious concern, as millions have emigrated amid the devastation of the country’s infrastructure and economy, which he estimated will take decades and hundreds of billions of dollars to reconstruct.
Since February 2022, the U.S. Congress has allocated nearly $175 billion in aid to Ukraine, with approximately $65 billion designated for direct military assistance. However, Rubio pointed out that the previous administration failed to clearly articulate the end goals of the conflict. “What exactly were we funding? What exactly were we putting money towards? On many occasions, it sounded like ‘however much it takes for however long it takes.’ That is not a realistic or prudent position,” he remarked.
Rubio acknowledged the complexities involved in negotiating peace, stating that it would require “hard work” and “bold diplomacy,” with both Ukraine and Russia needing to make concessions. He emphasized, “It’s also important that there be some balance on both sides. In essence, it will be difficult to achieve this objective of a ceasefire and ultimately a peace settlement unless both sides have leverage.”
Currently, Ukraine has prohibited any negotiations with Russia while President Vladimir Putin remains in power. Russia, on the other hand, has expressed its willingness to engage in discussions, but insists that any resolution must ensure that Ukraine becomes a neutral, demilitarized, and "denazified" state that respects the rights of Russian speakers and acknowledges territorial changes on the ground.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
