The key facts

  • Rubio called the question of the part of the Donbas controlled by Ukraine the central problem of the conflict
  • Ukraine, according to Rubio, is not ready to give up the remaining 11% of the Donbas as its last line of defense
  • Elections in Ukraine, in Rubio's view, do not solve the main problems that keep the war going

Rubio called the Donbas the central issue of the conflict

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Breitbart that one of the main reasons the conflict in Ukraine continues is disagreements over the part of the Donbas under Kyiv's control. According to him, Ukraine does not want to give up this territory because it considers it an important line of defense.

Quote about 11% of the Donbas

“Ukraine says: ‘We cannot give up the remaining 11 percent of the Donbas, because it is our last line of defense.’ So this is precisely the issue at the center of the conflict. There are many other problems as well, but ultimately it is this issue that determines the war,” Rubio said.

Difficulties in negotiations and the topic of elections

The Secretary of State emphasized that disagreements between the parties complicate peace negotiations: despite efforts to end the war, reaching a compromise on key issues remains difficult. Touching on the topic of elections in Ukraine, Rubio noted that they are important but do not solve the main problems contributing to the continuation of the war.

Context of elections in Ukraine

Martial law has been in effect in Ukraine since February 2022. Under Ukrainian legislation, presidential and parliamentary elections are prohibited during martial law, so the presidential elections scheduled for 2024 did not take place.