Rubio calls Donbas key barrier to ceasefire

The essence of the conflict boils down to one region

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed the view that the main factor complicating the process of ending the war remains the situation around Donbas. As a journalist from Radio Svoboda notes, quoting Rubio, although public discussion is often conducted in the context of the general "war in Ukraine", the real knot of contradictions is concentrated precisely on this territory.

«Багато хто говорить про цю війну як про "війну в Україні", але насправді вона стосується Донбасу — одного конкретного регіону країни. По суті, йдеться про територію, яка становить близько 11% країни: Росія прагне її отримати, але не може захопити військовим шляхом, а Україна не хоче від неї відмовлятися» (Many people talk about this war as the "war in Ukraine", but in reality it concerns Donbas — one specific region of the country. Essentially, it is about a territory that accounts for about 11% of the country: Russia seeks to obtain it but cannot seize it by military means, while Ukraine does not want to give it up), Rubio emphasised.

Sides' positions on territorial claims

According to the American diplomat, Russia is trying to establish its control over this region. Meanwhile, Ukraine is not ready to give up these lands. Rubio stressed that Kyiv has valid grounds for such a position. Above all, this refers to the need to protect state sovereignty and ensure security guarantees for the country in the long term.

The need for compromise

The US Secretary of State is convinced that for achieving a peaceful settlement, the parties need to find common ground, which would involve mutual concessions.

«Головне зараз — знайти компроміс, за якого обидві сторони підуть на поступки заради завершення війни» (The main thing now is to find a compromise where both sides make concessions for the sake of ending the war), Rubio stated.