Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ukraine Conflict topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rubio Tells Committee Ending Ukraine War Is Priority; Lawmakers Press on Sanctions and Support
Summary
Secretary Rubio said the administration's top priority is to end the war in Ukraine and prevent further casualties; members questioned whether negotiations should be conditioned by stronger pressure on Russia and demanded clarity on U.S. policy and the role of sanctions.
Secretary Marco Rubio told the committee "our goal is to end this war" in Ukraine to stop the daily loss of life and prevent further war crimes, while emphasizing diplomacy with Russia remains necessary despite ongoing allegations of atrocities.
"Crimes have been committed in the war on Ukraine, and there will be accountability for that," Rubio said. "But our goal right now is to end that war. Because... every single day that war goes on, more people are killed, more people are maimed." He said the United States must continue engaging European partners to prevent escalation and urged negotiations aimed at a settlement.
Several representatives pressed for firmer language and measures to deter Russian aggression. Representative John Keating and others asked whether President Putin is a war criminal; Rubio responded that war crimes have been committed and that accountability will follow while reiterating the objective of ending the conflict through a negotiated settlement.
Members also raised logistics and oversight for U.S. assistance and asked whether prior pauses in arms transfers had been coordinated across the administration; Rubio said assistance continues and that sanctions and other tools remain available as leverage.
Ending: Rubio said U.S. policy will seek to bring both sides to the table and that the administration is prepared to consider sanctions and other options if negotiations fail.
