The Kremlin has reacted to recent comments made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as a proxy war between two nuclear-armed nations — the United States and Russia.

In an interview with Fox News, Rubio explained that President Donald Trump views the war as a prolonged and deadlocked confrontation. He defended the administration’s diplomatic push for a resolution, emphasizing the need to bring the war to an end. Rubio also called out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for undermining peace talks during his recent visit to the White House, stating that the Ukrainian leader had cast doubt on whether negotiations were even possible.

Marco Rubio says that the Ukrainian war is a protracted stalemated conflict and a proxy war between nuclear superpowers—the US and Russia—and one that needs to come to an end. Ukraine and its allies in Washington and Europe don’t have any plans on how to do that. pic.twitter.com/YEM6yvpPU6

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 6, 2025

So it is a proxy war after all. https://t.co/ZVFMvSbJsX pic.twitter.com/r1ULUupePl

— Anatomy II 🇨🇦 (@AnatomyII) March 6, 2025

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Rubio’s characterization of the war, agreeing that the conflict extends beyond Ukraine. “We have said this repeatedly. This is actually a conflict between Russia and the collective West,” Peskov stated. He added that the United States is the primary force behind Western involvement in Ukraine, reinforcing Moscow’s long-held stance that the war is not just about Ukraine’s sovereignty but a broader geopolitical struggle.

Rubio’s remarks mark a significant shift in U.S. rhetoric regarding the war. Before taking his current position in the Trump administration, Rubio had been more aggressive in his stance toward Russia. Now, he has aligned with Trump’s strategy of pushing for a peace deal, despite resistance from Ukrainian leadership.

Everyone knows it’s a proxy war — the only question is how long they’ll keep sacrificing Ukraine to avoid admitting it. pic.twitter.com/OAo17gg3GK

— TacticalEdge (@EdgeE50124) March 6, 2025

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Rubio just admitted the Ukraine war is a proxy war.

Funny how that used to be called "Russian propaganda," huh? pic.twitter.com/T5y1bRtUfF

— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) March 6, 2025

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced detailing the extent of U.S. involvement in Ukraine over the years. A decade-long program, initiated under previous administrations, has modernized Ukraine’s intelligence operations, with covert assistance from the CIA. Intelligence-sharing has been critical to Ukraine’s military strategy, including launching strikes on Russian targets. However, Trump recently ordered an end to this practice, signaling a shift in U.S. policy amid deteriorating relations with Kyiv.