**US Seeks Sustainable Peace in Ukraine**
The Trump administration is working to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, so that it doesn’t start again in a few years. This was stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on January 21.
“We want to make sure that when we finish this conflict, it’s going to be finished for good,” Rubio said on CBS Mornings. He added that they don’t just want the war to end and then restart soon after.
Rubio emphasized that both Ukraine and Russia need to make concessions in order to achieve a lasting peace. “It is a stalemate. It’s a war that was started by Russia, but it is now a stalemate,” he said.
**Ukraine Pays the Biggest Price**
The secretary of state noted that Ukraine has paid the biggest price for the war, with many people killed or forced to leave their homes. The country’s energy infrastructure and economy have also been severely damaged.
Russia has lost around 700,000-800,000 soldiers killed or wounded in the conflict, but still seems able to replace these losses with new contract soldiers. However, the country’s economy is facing difficulties due to inflation and sanctions on its energy sector.
**US President Trump Criticizes Putin**
In a rare criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump said that he is “destroying Russia” by not seeking a deal to end the war. The new president has promised to meet with his Russian counterpart soon.
However, it remains unclear whether Putin wants to negotiate an end to the conflict. Rubio did not provide a specific timeframe for ending the war, saying only that it would be the priority and policy of the United States.