US discusses new options for settling the Donbas issue - Rubio
The US and Ukraine are discussing new options for resolving the territorial dispute around Donbas, which remains one of the main obstacles to ending the war. The worked-out proposals are to be presented by the American side to the Russian leadership during the next round of talks.
This was announced on October 21 by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a conversation with journalists in India. His press conference was broadcast by Fox News.
According to Rubio, the fate of the unoccupied part of Donbas remains the most difficult issue of the peace process. Moscow demands the transfer of these territories, although the Russian army has so far been unable to capture them militarily.
"At the center of all this is that part of Donbas that Russia demands but has not been able to capture on the battlefield and that Ukraine still holds", - stressed the US Secretary of State.
Rubio said that the negotiators have already come up with unconventional ideas to overcome this disagreement. He did not reveal their content, but noted that in order to reach an agreement, both sides will have to give up something. At the same time, Ukraine's key demand remains long-term security guarantees that should prevent a renewed Russian invasion.
The Donbas problem has previously been called the main obstacle to a peace agreement. In particular, on October 8, Rubio stated that Russia considers the complete capture of Donetsk region as its condition for victory, while such a demand is unacceptable for Ukraine. At that time, the Secretary of State assessed the prospects for a diplomatic settlement pessimistically.
The current statements came after the talks between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Special Representative Steve Witkoff in Oslo on October 20. Rubio confirmed that Witkoff left for St. Petersburg, where he is to present the proposals discussed with Kyiv to the Russian side.
In the Secretary of State's assessment, the talks in Norway were positive. The further diplomatic process involves clarifying Moscow's position on the proposed ideas and seeking opportunities to bring the parties' positions closer.
During the same press conference, Rubio made a strong statement regarding the role of American military and financial support for Ukraine.
"Without the help of the United States, Ukraine would not exist today as a sovereign state", - he said.
According to Rubio, Washington has provided billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine both under the previous administration of Joe Biden and under the presidency of Donald Trump. At the same time, the Secretary of State separately noted the courage of Ukrainian soldiers who stand against a much larger country. His statement about the impossibility of Ukraine's existence without American aid is a political assessment, not an established fact.
It is currently unknown whether Russia is ready to discuss new proposals regarding Donbas. Rubio admitted that the negotiations remain extremely complex, and reaching a compromise will require further consultations.
Based on materials from: Fox News, Kathimerini, The Guardian
