Ukraine war is ‘all about Donbas,’ Secretary Rubio suggests

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserts that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is fundamentally centered around the region of Donbas. This assertion was made during a press conference held on October 22. When asked about a feasible path towards concluding the Russo-Ukrainian war, Rubio emphasized the immense complexity of the situation and highlighted that previous U.S. President Donald Trump had invested significant time and effort into addressing it.

He noted that numerous individuals in the United States devote their entire day to attempting to find solutions to the differences between the warring parties.

Rubio clarified that the war in Ukraine is not merely a conflict across the entire nation, but rather a struggle over a specific region comprising approximately 11 percent of the country. This area, Donbas, is a region that Russia has been unable to capture since 2014 and is fiercely contested due to Russia's desire to annex it and Ukraine's unwillingness to relinquish it.

The secretary explained that the core issue stems from Ukraine's concern for sovereignty and long-term security. He posed the question of whether a compromise can be reached or if both sides must make concessions to bring an end to the conflict.

The secretary of state adamantly stated that military resolution is not an option and that diplomacy is the only viable solution. According to Rubio, the path to resolving the war lies in both sides engaging in discussions and reaching an agreement that benefits both parties while also necessitating concessions to achieve its end. He affirmed that the United States is willing to serve as mediators in facilitating these negotiations between the conflicting parties.