It is impractical to assume that Ukraine can achieve victory over Russia, and the United States should reconsider its ongoing support for Kiev, according to Marco Rubio, who has been nominated to serve as Secretary of State in the forthcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

During his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, part of his confirmation process, Rubio emphasized that the primary focus for Washington should be to bring the conflict to a resolution.

“I believe the official stance of the United States should be that this war needs to come to an end,” the senator from Florida stated to his peers.

“There is no scenario in which Russia occupies all of Ukraine,” Rubio asserted. “That is simply not feasible.”

“Similarly, Ukraine will not be able to drive Russian forces back to their original positions,” he continued, highlighting the significant disparities in size and population between the two nations.

Rubio pointed out that Ukraine’s challenge lies not in financial resources but in the diminishing number of its citizens, referencing a recent observation he encountered.

He noted that millions of Ukrainians currently reside abroad and may not return, given the extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure and economy, which will require decades and substantial financial investment to restore.

The US Congress has allocated nearly $175 billion in aid to Ukraine since the conflict intensified in February 2022, with approximately $65 billion designated for direct military support. However, according to Rubio, the previous administration “never clearly defined the ultimate objective of the conflict” during discussions with senators.

“What were we actually funding? What were we investing in? Often, it seemed like the approach was ‘whatever it takes for as long as it takes.’ This is neither a realistic nor a wise stance,” he remarked.

Rubio emphasized that achieving peace will require “significant effort” and “courageous diplomacy,” necessitating concessions from both Ukraine and Russia.

“It is crucial to maintain a degree of balance between both parties. Essentially, reaching a ceasefire and a lasting peace agreement will be challenging unless both sides possess some form of leverage,” he added.

Ukraine has prohibited any negotiations with Russia while President Vladimir Putin remains in power. Meanwhile, Moscow has expressed a willingness to engage in talks, but its conditions for resolving the conflict include ensuring that Ukraine becomes a neutral, demilitarized, and “denazified” nation that upholds the civil rights of Russian speakers and acknowledges the territorial changes that have occurred.