Secretary Rubio tells House panel war in Ukraine needs negotiated settlement; U.S. keeps sanctions options

Secretary Rubio told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that the war in Ukraine "has no military solution" and that ending the conflict will require a negotiated settlement in which both sides accept compromises.

In remarks describing the state of play, Rubio said: "Russia wants what they do not have... and Ukraine wants what they cannot get," and described the current conflict as a long, costly stalemate that is producing regular attacks on civilians. He said the United States has preserved sanctions authority and that Congress could consider additional sanctions if necessary, and reported that a Russian memorandum of peace outlining ceasefire demands was expected in the coming days.

Why it matters: Members emphasized both the human toll of continued fighting and the strategic stakes for U.S. policy. Some members pushed for firmer accountability measures to prevent Russia from being rewarded for aggression; Rubio said the administration would remain prepared to apply additional sanctions if a negotiation did not address key Russian actions such as enrichment capabilities.

Details: Rubio described the U.S. objective as seeking a "sustainable" peace agreement and keeping options open to pressure Moscow. He said the president has preserved sanctions authorities that have not been used and that congressional action could add further measures. The secretary said the U.S. remains open to talks that could produce a durable settlement and that a ceasefire is a necessary step for negotiations to succeed.

Ending: No changes to U.S. assistance were voted on at the hearing; members and the secretary agreed to continue consultations on policy options to support Ukraine while protecting U.S. interests.