No Quick Peace on Ukraine or Gaza, Marco Rubio Says at Year-End Briefing

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said efforts to secure peace in Ukraine and Gaza face significant hurdles, cautioning against expectations of quick breakthroughs as the Trump administration continues high-stakes diplomatic engagements on multiple global fronts.

Speaking during a rare, marathon year-end news conference at the State Department, Rubio said the United States remains committed to facilitating dialogue but cannot impose peace agreements on warring parties. He stressed that any deal would require concessions from all sides — and that failure remains a real possibility.

Rubio’s remarks came as senior officials from Britain, France and Germany met Ukrainian negotiators in Florida to discuss the latest version of the Trump administration’s Ukraine-Russia peace proposal. Parallel discussions involving Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari officials were also underway to advance negotiations aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

On Ukraine, Rubio said a settlement would be impossible unless both Kyiv and Moscow agree to the terms. He acknowledged the complexity of the negotiations, noting that Ukraine has rejected proposals involving territorial concessions, even when paired with long-term security guarantees.

Regarding Gaza, Rubio said progress on the US-backed ceasefire plan has been slow. The proposal includes the creation of a transitional “Board of Peace” to govern Gaza after the conflict, followed by the deployment of an international stabilisation force. Rubio said key questions around funding, command structure and rules of engagement still need to be resolved before implementation.

Rubio also defended the Trump administration’s tougher stance on Venezuela, including expanded US military operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking networks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. He said the administration believes the actions fall short of war and do not require congressional authorisation, citing strong internal legal opinions.

While President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of conflict with Venezuela, Rubio maintained that US actions are focused on countering narco-terrorism rather than seeking direct regime change. He accused the Venezuelan government of cooperating with extremist groups and international drug networks.

Beyond Ukraine and Gaza, Rubio acknowledged that several ceasefires brokered with US involvement — including in Southeast Asia and Central Africa — are under strain due to renewed fighting. However, he said the agreements still provide a framework to push parties back toward negotiations.

Rubio also used the briefing to strongly defend the administration’s overhaul of US foreign assistance, including the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development and cuts to overseas aid. While critics argue the changes have harmed vulnerable populations, Rubio said foreign aid must be aligned strictly with US national interests and noted that humanitarian relief operations continue in several regions.

The extended briefing, which lasted more than two hours, underscored Rubio’s expanded role as both Secretary of State and national security adviser, as well as his emergence as a leading voice behind the administration’s “America First” foreign policy doctrine.