Rubio tells Zelensky to focus on ending war as US-Ukraine tensions escalate

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday (local time) delivered pointed remarks directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, telling him to focus on ending the war.

The comments signal a sharpening of tensions between Washington and Kyiv over the conflict.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Uzbekistan, Rubio said, "What he needs to be focused on, and what we want to be focused on, is the end of this war."

He added that there had been "no pause in intelligence sharing," as Ukrainian officials had claimed.

On the possibility of a three-way summit among the United States, China and Russia to end the war in Ukraine, Rubio said, "There have been discussions about a meeting," adding, "I don't know if it's been finalized, but the president's clear position is that he wants the war to end."

He said the US sees "nothing good" coming from the war, citing "numerous downsides — including the very real risk of this conflict spreading to other countries, through failed acts of sabotage and drones drifting into neighboring countries due to electronic warfare."

Earlier, Zelensky said in an interview with Bloomberg on Sunday (local time) that the United States was pressuring Ukraine to surrender to Russia.

Zelensky said recent actions by the Trump administration were working against Ukraine's interests.

He said Starlink internet speeds used by Ukrainian forces as a key communications network were being deliberately throttled, and that the supply of Patriot interceptor missiles needed to defend against Russian ballistic missiles was being delayed.

When asked who was behind the Starlink slowdown, Zelensky cited anonymous sources and pointed to "the agencies and the White House."

He also said the United States was currently supplying Ukraine with only 12 Patriot interceptor missiles per month — roughly one-quarter of the rate under the Joe Biden administration.

"We paid for weapons, including ballistic missile interceptors," Zelensky said. "This is not a technical issue."

He also said he believed "measures have been taken to push Ukraine toward surrender."