"Ending the war in Ukraine will happen in several stages, the first being a ceasefire" – U.S. Secretary of State Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Donald Trump is not only seeking a ceasefire in Ukraine but is also insisting on a full end to the war. He said this in an interview published on the official website of the U.S. Department of State.

"He (Donald Trump – ed.) wants the war to end. He is waiting for this to be over. He is not just looking for a pause. It will be difficult; we will have to move step by step. Maybe it will start with a ceasefire… and then open up things like humanitarian corridors and ensuring that both sides do not target energy infrastructure. We will see how this works", - he said.

According to the U.S. Secretary of State, Europe must provide long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.

"It has to be the Europeans who must be ready to step up and do this, but there are many sensitive issues to discuss: territorial claims, arms control, and things like that, language and cultural issues—all of this needs to be worked through", - Marco Rubio emphasized.

He noted that the U.S. is interested in Ukraine’s long-term independence, and this should be secured through permanent economic interests.

As previously reported, Vice President J.D. Vance stated on Thursday that the U.S. could impose new anti-russian sanctions if russian putin does not agree to a peace agreement with Ukraine that guarantees Kyiv’s long-term independence.