Senators press State Department on Ukraine talks, sanctions and military support

Senators questioned Secretary Rubio about the administration’s approach to Russia and Ukraine, including whether U.S. leverage remains in place and how continued support for Ukraine will be coordinated with allies.

Rubio emphasized that “every single sanction, not one sanction’s been lifted on the Russians,” and that previously appropriated aid remains ongoing. He said some requests, including additional Patriot batteries, depend on allied inventories and production capacity: “There are NATO allies that do have some batteries of Patriot missiles that they could provide or transfer over to the Ukrainians … none of these countries want to give up their Patriot systems either.”

Lawmakers pressed whether the administration supports congressional sanction proposals and new supplemental aid. Rubio said Congress controls appropriations and the White House would decide whether to request a supplemental. He did not rule out supporting further measures if Russia is not serious about a negotiated settlement: “If in fact it is clear that the Russians are not interested in a peace deal… it may very well come to that point.”

Rubio described negotiations in Turkiye as an opening for prisoner exchanges and potential pathways to negotiations, but cautioned that a durable settlement will be difficult to achieve. “There is no military solution to this crisis,” he said. “It will have to end in a negotiated settlement.”

Ending: Senators signaled bipartisan interest in maintaining sanctions pressure and in ensuring munitions production keeps pace with battlefield consumption; Rubio said the administration is coordinating with allies and watching rates of expendable munitions production.