America’s top diplomat has delivered a sobering message – Ukraine won’t be able to push Russian forces back to where they were before 2014. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s frank admission marks a turning point in the war, now in its third year with no clear end in sight.
The comments come as secret peace talks brokered by Washington appear stuck. Both sides remain miles apart on key issues, especially territory. Russia still holds Crimea, which it took in 2014, plus four other regions it claimed in 2022 after local votes that Kyiv calls shams.
“Ukraine can’t push the Russians all the way back,” Rubio told Fox News, stating the obvious but saying it out loud for the first time. His words confirm what battle maps have shown for months – despite billions in Western weapons, Ukraine’s forces haven’t been able to break through heavily fortified Russian lines.
Sources say Ukrainian officials have hinted they might accept losing land in practice if not on paper. But President Zelensky keeps telling his people they’ll fight until every inch is free. Meanwhile, Moscow won’t budge on keeping what it’s taken while demanding Ukraine never joins NATO.
The Trump administration is losing patience, rubio warned the U.S. might walk away from peace efforts soon if there’s no progress. “What’s happening with China is more important,” he said, signaling Ukraine is slipping down Washington’s priority list.
