Stockholm: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that peace negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine are currently not taking place, though Washington remains prepared to help facilitate talks if conditions change. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO foreign ministers' summit in Sweden, Rubio said the US became directly involved in diplomatic efforts because both Moscow and Kyiv viewed Washington as "the only" intermediary.

According to Anadolu Agency, Rubio explained that the US was prompted to intervene because both Russia and Ukraine considered Washington the only viable mediator. "We got involved, okay? Because we were told we were the only ones that could do it. We were the only ones that the Russians and the Ukrainians would talk to. So, we got involved. They were not fruitful, unfortunately. ... We stand ready to continue to play that role," Rubio stated. Despite stalled negotiations, he emphasized that the Trump administration remains open to resuming a mediating role if an opportunity for meaningful progress emerges.

Rubio reiterated that there are currently no ongoing talks but expressed hope for future opportunities. He argued that neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to achieve a decisive military victory under conventional definitions of warfare, making diplomacy the only realistic path toward ending the conflict. "It will not end with a military victory by one side or the other, at least from a traditional standpoint of how military victories are defined," Rubio said. "So, it will have to lead, and if we can play a role in making that happen, the president (Donald Trump) is very much interested in doing it."

The Secretary assured that US support for Ukraine remains intact, while also signaling frustration with previous diplomatic efforts that failed to produce tangible results. He mentioned that the administration would avoid participating in negotiations that amount to little more than symbolic meetings. "There wasn't a lot of progress being made, but maybe dynamics will change," Rubio noted. "We stand ready to play whatever constructive role we can play."

Rubio concluded by expressing willingness to engage in future talks, provided they are constructive and productive. "We're more than happy to do that if the opportunity presents itself to have constructive and productive talks," he added. "We're also not interested in getting involved in an endless cycle of meetings that lead to nothing."