Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the United Nations Security Council in New York on September 23, 2025, focusing on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Rubio highlighted President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to restore peace in global conflicts since taking office.
Rubio referenced previous U.S. involvement in mediating disputes, including those between India and Pakistan, Thailand and Cambodia, and recent agreements signed at the White House involving Azerbaijan and Armenia. He noted that while progress has been made in some regions with international cooperation, the war in Ukraine remains a significant challenge.
Discussing the Ukraine conflict, Rubio stated: “The President has worked on it tirelessly, has invested a tremendous amount of his own time, energy, and the highest levels of our government. We have had meetings in Türkiye, meetings in Saudi Arabia, meetings in Alaska, countless phone calls, doing everything possible to bring this conflict to a resolution and to an end – a war that cannot end militarily. It will end at a negotiating table.”
He expressed concern about rising casualties: “Some of the numbers we are seeing in the loss of life among military personnel, for example on the Russian Federation’s side, are staggering. Staggering. In one month alone, more losses – more loss of life than in the entirety of the U.S. engagement in Afghanistan or Iraq.”
Rubio outlined steps taken by President Trump’s administration to facilitate peace talks. He said: “Very generous offers have been made. For example, a ceasefire at the current lines of contact while all the other details on this – on the future of the conflict could be worked out in terms of future territorial lines.” He also mentioned restraint regarding sanctions: “The President has shown extraordinary patience in terms of not assessing additional sanctions in the hopes of having a breakthrough.”
Despite these efforts, Rubio noted an escalation with increased strikes and airspace incursions over recent nights.
He warned that patience is limited: “The President is a very patient man… but his patience is not infinite.” Rubio added that further economic measures against Russia remain an option if diplomatic solutions fail: “He has before him the opportunity and the options of imposing additional economic costs on the Russian Federation… [and] to sell defensive weaponry, and potentially offensive weaponry so that Ukraine can defend itself from this assault by purchasing that weaponry.”
Rubio called for action from all parties involved: “I strongly urge the Security Council… to do everything within their power… to bring this war to an end before it becomes something that will last another three or four years.” He concluded by emphasizing potential consequences if no path toward peace emerges: “If there is no path to peace in the short term – then…the United States and President Donald J. Trump will take steps necessary to impose costs for continued aggression.”