Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a United Nations Security Council Ministerial Assembly on Ukraine

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Thank you, Mr. President, and all of you for convening right here as we speak on this vital matter.  When President Trump took workplace, he made it amongst his highest priorities the restoration of peace wherever and in every single place on the earth the place the chance introduced itself.  And it’s met with nice success in various locations. 

We had a battle between India and Pakistan, which was a really harmful battle, and one which he selected to interact in and was in a position to deliver it to – be very concerned in bringing it to a cessation of hostilities. 

When Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in hostilities, the President obtained concerned over a weekend – a weekend over within the United States – and have been in a position to play a vital function in that regard as properly.

We are very grateful to a number of the international locations on this room that have been useful in that regard with the DRC and Rwanda, and work stays to be performed.  But once more, a battle that presents grave risks and extraordinary humanitarian challenges.

With Azerbaijan and Armenia as properly, he has turn into concerned and we have been in a position to signal an settlement on the White House very lately that hopefully prevents a future battle which might show pricey and lethal. 

But the one which’s proved to be a very[1] problem has been the conflict in Ukraine, between Russia and Ukraine.  The President has labored on it tirelessly, has invested an amazing quantity of his personal time, vitality, and the very best ranges of our authorities.  We have had conferences in Türkiye, conferences in Saudi Arabia, conferences in Alaska, numerous telephone calls, doing every part potential to deliver this battle to a decision and to an finish – a conflict that can’t finish militarily.  It will finish at a negotiating desk.  That’s the place this conflict will finish.  But the longer it lasts, the extra individuals will die, the extra can be destroyed. 

Some of the numbers we’re seeing within the lack of life amongst army personnel, for instance on the Russian Federation’s facet, are staggering.  Staggering.  In one month alone, extra losses – extra lack of life than within the entirety of the U.S. engagement in Afghanistan or Iraq.  This conflict has to finish, and we now have performed every part we presumably can, and can proceed to do every part we presumably can, to deliver it to an finish. 

Very beneficiant gives have been made.  For instance, a ceasefire on the present strains of contact whereas all the opposite particulars on this – on the way forward for the battle could possibly be labored out by way of future territorial strains.  The President has proven extraordinary persistence by way of not assessing extra sanctions within the hopes of getting a breakthrough on this regard.  And all has come to what seems to be not only a stagnant one, however an period and – we’ve entered a interval of what seems to be potential even escalation, with some – the traditionally highest variety of strikes we’ve seen over the previous couple of nights and earlier than, and now we’re additionally watching incursions into neighboring airspace by each drones and airplanes.

The President is a really affected person man, he’s very dedicated to peace, however his persistence will not be infinite.  And as he has mentioned repeatedly, he has earlier than him the chance and the choices of imposing extra financial prices on the Russian Federation, if needed, as a way to deliver this to an finish.  He additionally has earlier than him the choice, as he has already chosen to do in some circumstances, to promote defensive weaponry, and probably offensive weaponry, in order that Ukraine can defend itself from this assault by buying that weaponry.

So I’m right here to say to the Security Council the United States stays as dedicated because it has ever been to a peaceable decision to this harmful battle.  But there’ll come a second through which we must conclude that maybe there is no such thing as a curiosity in a peaceable decision, after which the President has earlier than him actual choices, which he intends to pursue, as he has made clear as we speak in a number of the messages he has put out.

So I strongly urge the Security Council, the member-states right here, and people who usually are not a part of this as properly, to do every part of their energy – and together with the Russian Federation to do every part inside their energy, and the Ukrainian facet for that matter as properly – however all sides, to deliver this conflict to an finish earlier than it turns into one thing that can final one other three or 4 years, result in extra destruction, each financial, and on the similar time, lack of life and lack of property and lack of futures.  This conflict wants to finish.  But if it doesn’t – if there is no such thing as a path to peace within the brief time period – then the United States and President Donald J. Trump will take the steps essential to impose prices for continued aggression.

Thank you. 

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