Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
According to the US Secretary of State, the Russian definition of a victory is “simply unacceptable” to Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine is now closing in on its fifth anniversary, far longer than Moscow originally anticipated.
And unfortunately, there is no end in sight.
Speaking to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the war has reached a dangerous strategic stalemate.
According to Rubio, such deadlocks are broken only through peace talks or wider escalation. Diplomatic efforts have stumbled because Russia continues to demand full control over the entire Donetsk region, a condition Kyiv refuses to consider.
“Right now, there don’t seem to be prospects of a negotiated settlement,” Rubio said. “The Russians have defined victory as the totality of Donetsk; they’ve repeatedly stated that as their goal and they continue to state that as their goal. And that’s a condition that, for Ukraine, is simply unacceptable.”
Fears of spillover
With diplomatic channels stalled, Washington fears the fighting could spill beyond current borders. Recent incidents in nearby waters show how quickly tension can rise.
Rubio pointed to recent naval attacks as evidence of expanding risks. “Just yesterday, some ships were attacked in the Black Sea through a coordinated drone attack,” he noted. “We’re worried about a sabotage operation in a neighboring country that can spiral out of control.”
At the same time, intelligence indicates Russia plans to target Ukrainian power infrastructure as cold weather arrives, aiming to force a surrender.
Ukraine, on the other hand, is continuing to strike targets deep in Russian territory.
A fragile future
RBC-Ukraine notes that Russian leader Vladimir Putin recently dismissed ideas of a mutual pause in strikes, calling the concept absurd. That rigid stance leaves little room for compromise as winter approaches.
American diplomats say they remain ready to assist if an opening appears. Still, global leaders worry that unchecked military strikes could spark a much larger confrontation.
“We share the same concern,” Rubio added. “The whole world is going about this thing like something that could escalate and perhaps become a broader conflict. So, we stand prepared to facilitate and continue to explore any opportunity for a negotiated settlement.”
