In an interview with Fox Radio journalist Brian Kilmeade, Marco Rubio stated that the US contacted Russian representatives this week, calling this conversation "non-public." However, he did not specify in what format it took place or who the negotiators were.
"We also had a full conversation with them — not with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, but with some of his high-ranking people — in hopes of reaching some understanding of the way forward that would lead to peace. But so far, we see no progress in this direction," Rubio stated.
According to him, Donald Trump waited more than six months and made every effort, but "at some point, he will have to decide how actively to continue efforts to achieve a truce if one side is not interested in it."
Rubio also emphasized that the US considers a military confrontation with Russia unthinkable, including due to the nuclear potential of both countries.
"A war between the US and Russia is something we will never see. These are the two largest nuclear armies in the world, and the danger would be too great. I don't think there are any doubts that, with only conventional weapons, the Russians would not be able to withstand the US or, frankly, many European countries. I think they would have a hard time. <…> I think you are more worried about a skirmish or miscalculation that leads to the start of a conflict because, since the Russians are not very good with conventional weapons, they would almost inevitably have to resort to some other means, such as tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield, to escalate and de-escalate the conflict. <…> But we shouldn't even think about it because it's unrealistic and, frankly, unfeasible for either side," noted the head of the State Department.
Earlier, Donald Trump announced the date after which, in the absence of a truce in Ukraine, he would impose new sanctions against Russia and take "a number of other measures" — August 8.
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