“Only Trump, and no one else” can end the war in Ukraine

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the war in Ukraine can only be ended through American mediation and that President Donald Trump is the only world leader capable of achieving this. He made the remarks during a government meeting at the White House.

Rubio said Trump’s special envoy Steven Witkoff is currently in Moscow seeking ways to end the conflict. The Kremlin is hosting talks between President Vladimir Putin, Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, following US–Ukraine discussions held in Florida. Axios reported that Witkoff travelled to Moscow to present an updated version of Washington’s “peace plan.”

According to The Times, Kushner and Witkoff have become the leading US negotiators with Russia, effectively pushing Rubio into the background. The newspaper notes that Rubio is seen as more sympathetic to Ukraine and helped refine the US plan. He took part in talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva on 23 November but did not travel to Moscow on 2 December.

Kushner, 44, is said to be playing an increasingly active role in US diplomatic efforts despite holding no official White House position. Witkoff has visited Moscow several times this year and met with Putin on multiple occasions.