Rubio: More Sanctions means 2 more Years of War

US Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio gave an important interview to NBC Meet the Press:

His first claim in this interview was that the war in Ukraine “cannot be won militarily”.

This was a clear message to the European leaders who are preparing Europe for a military confrontation with Russia.

Rubio claimed that “specially Ukraine” suffers under deaths. This is the first official admission that the Ukrainian war had produced more casualties on the Ukrainian side.  It reads like that Russia was able to substantially reduce its own casualties. Both countries do not disclose their number of casualties.

Rubio said that the deal is very close but that “we are not there yet”.

Rubio mentioned late Pope Francis who loudly demanded peace in Ukraine and requested the parties to give up. Rubio compared somehow the late Pope to Trump and he called the parties to be realistic.

Answering a critical question, why Rubio in 2022 demanded the unconditional withdrawal of Russia troops from Ukraine, he said that after 3 years of war the situation has changed and it needs now to be realistic. He reiterated that this war has no military solution, but needs a diplomatic solution. Again, for Rubio, more sanctions are only one option … seemingly not the best.

With regard to security guarantees for Ukraine in case of a peace agreement, Rubio did not further elaborate. The matter of such security guarantees is a major negotiation point for Russia, demanding no NATO for Ukraine and no NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine.