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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that President Donald Trump is actively seeking an end to the Russia-Ukraine war through diplomatic channels, signaling a potential shift in American strategy toward the conflict.
"[President Trump] wants wars to end. He hopes for this with Russia and Ukraine," Rubio told reporters at the NATO Informal Foreign Ministers Meeting being held at the NEST Congress Center in Antalya. "We will see what happens in the coming days, but we want to see progress."
The remarks came during the second day of the NATO gathering, where Rubio emphasized that the Russia-Ukraine war remains "the biggest issue on people's minds."
"The U.S. President has clearly stated that he wants the war to end," Rubio said, adding that Trump is prepared for "any mechanism that will end the war and ensure lasting peace."
Rubio stressed that NATO's purpose is to prevent wars, not prolong them. He emphasized the administration's belief that a military solution is not viable in Ukraine.
"There is no military solution regarding Russia and Ukraine, a diplomatic solution is needed," Rubio said." [Trump] opposes wars, terrorism, and the instability that results from these. This is why he made such a decision regarding Syria, and we hope the authorities there will use this opportunity to rebuild the country and transform it from a source of instability to a source of stability."
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who also spoke at the event, praised Trump and his team's efforts, particularly highlighting their recent focus on the Middle East where he said they have "shown real progress and demonstrated U.S. leadership."
Rutte emphasized the need for collective stability not only in Ukraine, where he said the Trump administration has "eliminated the stalemate," but also in the Middle East and across various global issues.
"This is very important because there is an ongoing Russian threat. China is currently developing its military at a tremendous rate. The terrorist threat still continues," Rutte said.
The NATO chief added that the alliance must develop its defense industry because "budget alone is not enough yet" to ensure NATO territories can counter any potential threats.
The meeting in Antalya is expected to focus on defense spending increases across Canada and Europe, as well as strategies for achieving lasting peace in Ukraine, according to Rutte.
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