July 31, 2025 — Washington is reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing war in Ukraine, stepping up diplomatic efforts even as Moscow continues to reject meaningful compromise. This week, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the United States held new talks with members of the Russian leadership aimed at ending the conflict, but once again, no breakthrough was achieved.
“We had a substantive discussion — not with Putin himself, but with people close to him, with real influence in decision-making. Unfortunately, there was no progress. We didn’t hear a single realistic proposal from their side that could pave the way toward de-escalation,” Rubio stated at a press briefing in Washington on July 30.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the war has turned into a protracted and devastating conflict. As of summer 2025, both sides have suffered massive losses. Yet the Kremlin, despite growing international pressure and severe domestic economic challenges, continues to insist on the legitimacy of its aggression.
Meanwhile, across Europe and North America, debates continue about the future of security on the continent. Following Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO and the Alliance’s expanded military presence in Eastern Europe, Moscow routinely claims it faces a “direct threat.” However, facts point in a different direction: it is Russia that has systematically violated international agreements, including the UN Charter and the Budapest Memorandum.
As diplomatic contacts proceed behind the scenes, new military and economic aid packages for Ukraine are under active discussion. In June 2025 alone, the U.S. Congress approved an additional $61 billion in support — much of it designated for air defense systems like Patriot and NASAMS, as well as counter-battery munitions. This assistance is increasingly being compared to the historic Lend-Lease program that helped defeat fascism during World War II.
The U.S. position remains firm: a lasting peace is only possible if Russian forces withdraw from all occupied Ukrainian territories. At the same time, the Biden administration makes it clear that, despite “war fatigue” in some quarters, Washington will not abandon Ukraine in the face of nuclear blackmail.
“We are not seeking war with Russia. But we will not allow a dictator in the Kremlin to redraw Europe’s borders by force. This is not just about Ukraine — it’s about defending the principles that uphold the international order,” Rubio emphasized.
Recent developments — including the failure of Russia’s spring offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region and Ukraine’s increasingly deep strikes with drones inside Russian territory — show that the war is far from over. Inside Russia, unrest is growing, fueled by the cancellation of upcoming gubernatorial elections and the tightening of conscription laws.
Given this backdrop, diplomatic engagement by Western powers is essential — not to concede ground, but to show the world that peace is possible if the aggressor is willing to pursue it in good faith. Talks like those held this week are necessary steps in that direction, even if the immediate outcomes are limited.
For now, however, the world faces a stark choice: to allow violence to dictate the rules — or to stand firm in defense of the values that generations have fought to preserve.
