US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to seeking an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine while calling for stronger economic and diplomatic ties with Central Asia, warning that the conflict carries risks extending beyond the borders of Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on October 19, Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table, acknowledging that progress had been limited but insisting that Washington remained open to opportunities for a peace agreement.
“Nobody is winning that war,” Rubio said. “People are dying every day. Explosions are happening every day. Things are being destroyed every day.”
Rubio’s visit, accompanied by nearly 300 representatives of the US business community, also highlighted Washington’s efforts to expand its economic presence in Central Asia, where China is the leading trading partner and Russia retains longstanding security and economic ties.
Washington Keeps Diplomatic Channels Open With Moscow and Kyiv
During a meeting with foreign ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan under the C5+1 format, Rubio said the United States wanted to strengthen its regional presence without forcing Central Asian governments to choose between competing global powers.
Asked about reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed a meeting with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ending the war, Rubio confirmed that discussions about a possible meeting had taken place but said the details had not yet been finalized, to his knowledge.
Rubio reiterated that Trump remained committed to ending the conflict and that Washington would continue exploring diplomatic options despite the lack of progress so far.
“This is not a criminal proceeding,” Rubio said when asked what evidence the administration had that Putin was serious about peace negotiations. “This is diplomacy, and in diplomacy, you always keep trying.”
He stressed that a final agreement would depend on both sides being willing to make concessions.
Rubio also defended the administration’s decision to suspend certain sanctions for 60 days, arguing that the measure was intended to give ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine an opportunity to produce results.
Highlighting the human and economic costs of the war, he referred to Trump’s repeated claim that as many as 25,000 people are killed in the fighting each month.
Rubio Warns of Risks Beyond Ukraine and Russia
The US secretary of state warned that the conflict could have consequences extending beyond the two countries, particularly in Eastern Europe.
He pointed to incidents involving electronic warfare against drones, attempted sabotage and other security threats that could cause damage in neighboring countries or potentially trigger a wider confrontation.
Washington wants the war to end both because of its devastating consequences and because of the danger of further escalation, Rubio said.
Asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s claim that Washington had temporarily suspended some intelligence-sharing arrangements with Kyiv before restoring them, Rubio denied that there had been an interruption.
“I don’t know where he got that information or why he is telling the media that,” Rubio said.
He declined to comment on reports that Ukraine had not received a warning before Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv, saying he was unfamiliar with the details of the incident. He did confirm that US officials had previously examined a software problem involving Ukraine’s early-warning system.
Rubio said Washington had not changed its diplomatic presence in Kyiv, although the security of American diplomats and facilities remained a concern.
Asked whether relations between the Trump and Zelenskyy administrations had been fundamentally damaged, Rubio said the priority remained ending the war.
He also confirmed that Ukraine wanted to expand its use of Starshield, a satellite communications system operated by SpaceX for the US Department of Defense, to support attacks beyond Ukrainian territory. He declined to provide further details about the discussions.
US Seeks Greater Economic Engagement With Central Asia
Rubio’s visit also underscored Washington’s ambition to strengthen economic ties with Central Asia, where China is the leading trading partner of all five countries.
Chinese companies have secured agreements involving regional energy resources and minerals, while Russia maintains close links through oil and gas pipelines, security arrangements and labor migration. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has encouraged Central Asian governments to diversify their international relationships.
Asked how the United States intended to compete with China, Rubio said Washington was seeking a fair opportunity for American businesses rather than asking regional governments to sever existing partnerships.
“We’re not coming here to say, ‘Stop talking to someone else’ or ‘Stop working with another country,’” he said.
The American delegation aimed to identify opportunities for investment and trade, Rubio said, adding that agreements worth billions of dollars were expected to be announced.
He described Uzbekistan as a key regional player, citing its population, economic development and tourism potential. Rubio also pointed to the country’s reported annual economic growth of nearly 8 percent as a source of opportunities for closer cooperation.
He called for a stronger US commitment to Central Asia, arguing that the region had not received the attention it deserved from American policymakers over the previous two decades.
The objective of the visit, he said, was to establish the foundations for long-term cooperation rather than simply conclude a series of immediate commercial deals.
Critical Minerals and Energy Security
Rubio emphasized the importance of diversifying global supply chains, particularly for critical minerals used in advanced technologies and industrial production.
“It simply isn’t wise for the entire world to depend on one place for 100 percent of anything,” he said, warning that excessive dependence on a single supplier could leave countries vulnerable to political tensions and supply disruptions.
Countries with critical mineral resources and the capacity to process them have an economic interest in developing those assets responsibly, Rubio said. Washington is interested in partnerships that benefit local economies while diversifying supplies for American and global industries.
On energy policy, Rubio defended the administration’s decision to grant exemptions from sanctions affecting Russian oil shipments, rejecting suggestions that the measures represented a change in Washington’s position on Russian energy imports.
He said decisions had to account for global prices, energy availability and the economic circumstances of individual countries, including their ability to find alternative suppliers.
“American foreign policy is not determined solely by the war in Ukraine,” Rubio said, adding that bilateral relations and broader economic considerations also mattered.
He also said Washington was close to reaching a trade agreement with India, another factor in the administration’s efforts to balance energy policy with geopolitical priorities.
Rubio Backs Repeal of Jackson-Vanik Amendment
Rubio also expressed support for repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a Cold War-era trade restriction that continues to complicate US economic relations with some former Soviet republics.
Asked by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty why the amendment had not yet been repealed, Rubio said the decision rested with Congress, although the administration supported removing the restrictions.
“We support its repeal,” he said, adding that the administration had urged lawmakers to act.
Rubio said he had expressed support for repeal during his Senate confirmation hearings and noted that some members of Congress also backed the move.
“Congress simply hasn’t gotten around to addressing it yet, but we hope it will,” he said.
Adopted in 1974, the amendment conditioned normal trade relations with certain non-market economies on issues including freedom of emigration. Initially directed at Soviet restrictions on Jewish emigration, it continued to affect US trade policy toward countries that emerged after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Repealing the amendment would remove a longstanding obstacle to closer economic relations and support Washington’s efforts to expand business ties with Central Asia.
Rubio’s schedule in Samarkand included meetings with the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries, talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and engagements with representatives of the American business community.
He also visited Registan Square, a historic Silk Road landmark symbolizing Samarkand’s centuries-old role as a crossroads of trade. The visit preceded his planned trip to India, where US officials said negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement were nearing completion.
