U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated that the United States will not stop pushing for a resolution to the Ukraine crisis through negotiations, but President Trump's patience is not infinite.
Rubio pointed out that the war can only end through negotiations, and currently, the United States is the only country capable of driving the negotiation process. If the United States withdraws, other countries would find it difficult to take on this role.
Rubio's remarks can be seen as a "maximum pressure" strategy by the Trump administration in the Ukraine crisis. It both defines the boundaries of U.S. power and sends a clear time warning to all parties involved.
Rubio emphasized that "only the United States can drive negotiations," which is essentially declaring the United States' absolute dominance in this geopolitical game.
Although Europe is the largest donor to Ukraine (military aid to Ukraine in 2025 increased by an average of 67% compared to previous years), it has not been able to sit at the core negotiation table. Rubio's words undoubtedly confirm the current situation of Europe being marginalized.
Rubio's comments clearly tell Europe that the final negotiation rhythm and plan must be defined by Washington. At the same time, it implies that the United States does not support Ukraine's goal of "reconquering all lost territories," and demands Kyiv to accept reality within a time limit, reaching a compromise to achieve a ceasefire.
Rubio's speech marks the United States' shift from "supporting Ukraine's fight" to "forcing both sides to compromise." By emphasizing "uniqueness" to centralize power, and by emphasizing "limited patience" to apply pressure, the United States is trying to forcibly end the war in the coming months, even if the ending is not perfect.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858148180809728/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.