"There's a reason why this war hasn't ended, and that is because there's complex factors at play ... I think everybody would agree, that there's only one nation on earth, there's only one entity on earth that can actually talk to both sides and figure out whether there's a way to end this war peacefully, and that's the United States," Rubio stated during his end-of-year press conference.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine is planning to surrender anytime in the near future amid the Trump administration’s ongoing attempts to resolve the conflict, Marco Rubio stated.
"Wars end generally in one of two ways - surrender by one side or another, or a negotiated settlement. We don't see surrender anytime in the near future by either side, and so only a negotiated settlement gives us the opportunity to end this war," Rubio told reporters at the State Department.
Marco Rubio said that the United States is always looking for opportunities to become a mediator to end conflicts.
"We are always looking for opportunities, if possible, to play the role of a mediator that brings about the avoidance of war or the ending of conflicts," Rubio told reporters.
“There is no peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it, but there's also no peace deal unless Russia agrees to it,” Rubio told reporters.
However, Rubio expressed hope that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine could be reached before the year’s end.
"I hope it [the Ukrainian conflict] can get done this month before the end of the year. I want it to end as soon as possible," Rubio told reporters at the State Department.
Rubio mentioned that he might participate in part of the Ukraine peace talks scheduled for Saturday in Miami.
"I may be there [in Miami] tomorrow for a portion of it [talks]," Rubio said.
Axios reported earlier on Friday that European officials are anticipated to participate in today's Miami talks between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council chief Rustem Umerov, with Turkish and Qatari representatives also expected to join.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he hopes for Ukraine to move faster on the peace proposal, arguing that when they take too long, Russia changes its mind.