Rubio: US Pursues Peace While Europe Considers Military Action

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed what he described as an “unusual situation” in international relations, where the Trump administration is advocating for peace, contrasting sharply with calls for military action from certain European leaders. Rubio made these remarks during a dinner with the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

In his speech, Rubio quoted a cardinal he met in Rome, who expressed surprise at the current dynamics: “It is very unusual for us that the American president wants peace, and some Europeans are constantly calling for military affairs, as if the world had turned upside down.”

Rubio further explained that President Trump is focused on reducing excessive defense spending, preferring to invest those funds into the US economy. According to him, significant allocations for national security could be redirected towards infrastructure, technology, and other critical sectors that promote economic growth.

These comments come at a time when the Trump administration is actively pursuing diplomatic solutions to the conflict in Ukraine. Just a day prior, Trump participated in a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who described the conversation as informative and frank. While the timing of a ceasefire was not on the agenda, Trump emphasized his eagerness to reach an agreement as soon as possible, as noted by Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

Additionally, Rubio had previously stated during a NATO ministerial meeting in Antalya on May 15 that the United States is ready to back “any mechanism” that could facilitate peace in Ukraine, reiterating the necessity of a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.