Rubio warns Ukraine conflict could spread, says US will keep pursuing negotiations
In short
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that escalation of the conflict in Ukraine could lead to it spreading beyond the country, RIA Novosti and RBC reported, citing his interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. At a press conference in Lisbon, he said the United States would continue trying to help settle the conflict through negotiations, but, Interfax reported, does not want to take part in "useless processes" that bring no progress.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that escalation of the conflict in Ukraine could lead to it spreading beyond the country, RIA Novosti reported, citing his interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. "The whole world perceives this as something that could grow and possibly become a larger conflict," Rubio said, according to RIA Novosti. RBC also reported that Rubio told Kathimerini the conflict could intensify and grow into a larger confrontation. [ 1 , 9 ]
TASS reported that Rubio sees a risk of the conflict turning into a "much more dangerous" one, and RIA Novosti reported that he warned of the risks of escalation in Ukraine. [ 4 , 8 ]
At a press conference in Lisbon, where he is on a visit, Rubio said the United States would continue its attempts to help settle the conflict in Ukraine through negotiations, TASS reported. RIA Novosti reported him as saying that the US would continue to seek a negotiated settlement and that the US favours a just settlement of the conflict. In a separate report, RIA Novosti quoted Rubio as saying the US is ready to play a constructive role in a settlement in Ukraine. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Interfax reported that Rubio said at the press conference in Portugal that the US administration remains ready to work on resolving the Ukrainian conflict but will avoid initiatives that bring no real progress. "We do not want to take part in useless processes that do not lead to progress," he said, according to Interfax. Rubio said Washington remains "ready to help work out a solution" and recalled that, in the US view, the conflict can only be resolved diplomatically, Interfax reported. [ 7 ]
Why it matters
The remarks combine a warning about wider escalation with a statement that Washington will keep working towards a negotiated settlement while avoiding initiatives that give no real progress. Russian official agencies RIA Novosti and TASS and business outlets Interfax and RBC all carried the comments.
Key facts
- Rubio said the conflict in Ukraine could escalate and grow into a larger conflict. [ 1 , 9 ]
- Rubio made the warning in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. [ 1 , 9 ]
- TASS reported that Rubio sees a risk of the conflict turning into a "much more dangerous" one. [ 4 ]
- At a press conference in Lisbon, Rubio said the US will continue its attempts to help settle the conflict in Ukraine through negotiations. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Rubio said the US favours a just settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. [ 5 ]
- Rubio said the US is ready to play a constructive role in a settlement in Ukraine. [ 2 ]
- Rubio said the US does not want to take part in "useless processes" that do not lead to progress, Interfax reported. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Rubio warned of the risk of the conflict in Ukraine escalating. [ 1 , 4 , 8 , 9 ]
- Rubio made the warning in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. [ 1 , 9 ]
- Rubio said the US will continue to seek a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine through negotiations. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Rubio spoke at a press conference in Portugal. [ 3 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- When the Kathimerini interview took place. The documents give only their own publication dates, not the date of the interview.
- Which processes or initiatives Rubio meant by "useless processes". Only Interfax reports the remark, and it names no specific process or initiative.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports Rubio's warning, from his Kathimerini interview, that the conflict could spread beyond Ukraine. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Rubio saying the US is ready to play a constructive role in a settlement in Ukraine. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports Rubio saying at a press conference in Lisbon that the US will continue trying to help settle the conflict through negotiations. [ 3 ]
- Interfax reports Rubio saying the US does not want to take part in "useless processes". [ 7 ]
- RBC reports Rubio's warning that the conflict could grow into a larger confrontation. [ 9 ]