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During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, expressed his view that it is unrealistic to expect Ukraine to push Russian forces back to their pre-2022 invasion positions. Rubio emphasized the size disparity between Ukraine and Russia, stating that Ukraine lacks the manpower to achieve such a feat.
Rubio highlighted the need for the war in Ukraine to come to an end, aligning with Trump's stance on the issue. He criticized the Biden administration for not establishing a clear end goal for the conflict and emphasized the importance of officially declaring the desire for the war to cease.
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Unlike the Biden administration's approach of leaving negotiations on ending the war to the Ukrainians, Rubio advocated for ensuring that Ukraine has leverage in the negotiations. He acknowledged that concessions would need to be made by all parties involved, including Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, in order to reach a resolution.
Rubio's position signals a potential shift in US foreign policy towards the conflict in Ukraine, with a focus on ending the war and facilitating negotiations that involve all stakeholders. As the incoming secretary of state, Rubio's statements provide insight into the direction the Trump administration may take in addressing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.