Rubio: U
S. Shows the "Final Stretch" Toward Peace in Ukraine and Eastern Europe The United States is once again discussing a potential path to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the Trump administration opened a "final stretch" for Ukraine and Russia — a clear and concrete route that the parties need to follow to achieve lasting peace. This occurred amid active diplomatic discussions and meetings in Washington, as well as calls for both sides to agree on cessation of hostilities. During a meeting between the U.S. President and the Prime Minister of Norway in the Oval Office, when journalists asked about the prospects for resolving the war, Rubio provided a clear and optimistic response. He said that the U.S. side has proposed several options to Ukraine and Russia, which could form the basis for discussions and ultimately for reaching a final peace agreement. Simultaneously, he mentioned that these ideas have already been discussed — a signal that the U.S. not only seeks to be a mediator but also has a clear vision of the end goal. "Yesterday, a productive meeting took place. Additional negotiations are scheduled for the upcoming weekend. We have shown them the final stretch — now both Ukraine and Russia need to agree to say 'yes' to this path," Rubio stated. He emphasized that the U.S. is willing to do everything possible to reach a compromise, as the ultimate aim is to end a war that has already caused suffering and destruction for many people. Commenting on recent shelling of Kyiv by Russian forces, the politician stressed that these attacks serve as a reminder to everyone of the need for a quick and peaceful resolution to the conflict. According to him, the missile strike on the Ukrainian capital, which killed at least 12 civilians, is another argument supporting diplomatic solutions and stopping the aggression. "President Trump is a great peacemaker and does everything to save lives. We all owe him gratitude for that," the diplomat said. Rubio highlighted that the U.S. is not a party to the conflict and did not start the war, but is actively working to end it. "We aim to put an end to death and destruction, to do everything possible so that both countries agree to peace. And we are already seeing this final stretch. Now, both Ukraine and Russia need to join it," he concluded. From Rubio's words, it follows that the U.S. administration is committed to finding a diplomatic compromise that could resolve the conflict and restore the country to a safe and stable state. However, he noted that this process depends on the willingness and consent of both sides, and the U.S., in turn, is ready to support peace efforts in every way. Earlier, Donald Trump stated that there is a clear deadline in the U.S. for ending the conflict, hinting at the possibility of diplomatic efforts by a certain date. Recently, the U.S. President expressed dissatisfaction with Russia's new missile strikes on Kyiv, which claimed lives, and called on Vladimir Putin to stop: "Vladimir, stop!" According to available information, Washington not only advocates for a cessation of hostilities but also insists that Russia recognize Ukraine's right to self-defense, including having its own armed forces and defense industry as part of a potential peaceful settlement. Thus, the current situation is complicated but also underscores the urgent need for a quick compromise. The U.S. once again demonstrates its interest in a diplomatic resolution of the conflict and readiness to support Ukraine in its pursuit of peace — if both sides are willing to agree on a common solution here and now.