WASHINGTON DC – US President Donald Trump is growing “increasingly frustrated” with Russia’s lack of progress toward a peace deal and is now threatening severe economic penalties, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News’ My View with Lara Trump. A transcription of the interview was shared by the State Department on Sunday morning.
Rubio stated that Trump’s foremost priority is ending the “conflict,” emphasizing, “It’s not his war... He inherits it, and he’s done everything possible to bring it to an end.”
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However, despite what Rubio described as “very good interactions” with Russian President Vladimir Putin in phone calls, these discussions have consistently failed to yield results.
Trump, he said, “is losing his patience.”
“[The US president] is losing his willingness to continue to wait for the Russian side to do something here to bring an end to this... war,” Rubio said, adding that Trump is now considering drastic measures, including imposing 100 percent tariffs on Russia if a peace agreement isn’t reached within 50 days.
The top diplomat also highlighted the brutal human cost of the war, noting that “over 100,000 Russian soldiers – just on the Russian side – have been killed” since January of this year.
He accused Russia of employing “delay tactics” to prolong the war. “He’s not going to fall into that trap of being pulled into endless talks about talks,” Rubio asserted, attributing Trump’s hardened stance to his decades of experience dealing with “cutthroat people in business.”
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Rubio characterized Trump as the administration’s “ultimate closer,” who excels at finalizing complex negotiations. “That last 5 percent, those last few yards, are always the hardest one in any negotiation,” he explained.
US addresses growing alliance between China, Russia, and Iran
The interview also delved into the deepening ties between China, Russia, and Iran, which Rubio acknowledged are a concern for the US.
He stated it’s “not a secret” that China is providing Russia with significant aid, particularly through oil purchases, which have been crucial in sustaining Moscow’s military efforts.
“Everybody knows – it’s not a secret – that China is giving Russia as much aid as they can get away with without being discovered. The Europeans have caught onto this. There is no way that Putin could have sustained this war without Chinese support, particularly buying his oil,” he said.
Rubio suggested that China has an incentive for the war to continue, believing it will “distract us and prevent us from focusing on other parts of the world that they’re interested in.”
He also noted China’s historical support for Iran through oil purchases and defense articles.
However, Rubio indicated that recent demonstrations of US military strength, such as B-2 bombers conducting operations “halfway around the world,” have made these nations “a little bit more cautious about supporting Iran.”
He suggested this served as a powerful reminder of the “extraordinary military capabilities in the world” that the U.S. possesses.
US, China seek cooperation amid trade tensions
Regarding US-China relations, Rubio stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue between the two global powers to avoid misunderstandings and find areas of cooperation, despite inherent “irritants.”
He specifically addressed the long-standing trade imbalance, describing it as an “economic scheme” where China has enjoyed “unfettered access to the US market” while its own market remains “completely closed.”
He concluded by emphasizing the need for respectful relations with China while always prioritizing American interests in areas of disagreement.
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