Rubio Calls German Counterpart as Merz Rejects ‘Dictated Peace’ for Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC, December 3 ------ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to discuss ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the State Department said. The call comes amid growing tensions in transatlantic discussions over how to balance pressure on Kyiv with the urgency of ending Russia’s war of aggression.

According to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, Rubio emphasized that Washington’s goal remains a swift conclusion to the conflict and a lasting, sustainable peace. That push for an accelerated diplomatic solution, however, is running into firm resistance from a European front wary of forcing a deal on Kyiv.

Merz rejects ‘dictated peace’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made that stance clear on Monday in Berlin, standing alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “We have a clear course of action: No decision on Ukraine and Europe without Ukrainians and without Europeans,” Merz said, adding, “No dictated peace over the heads of Ukrainians. No weakening or division of the European Union and NATO.”

Merz’s remarks came shortly after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Paris for high-level talks. While the US has signaled that Kyiv may need to make concessions to achieve a negotiated settlement, European leaders have increasingly warned against any agreement that undermines Ukrainian sovereignty. The comments underscore Germany’s push to maintain a united European front, even as Washington seeks to accelerate diplomatic solutions that could involve difficult compromises from Kyiv.

Rubio skips NATO meeting, Landau sent to Brussels

The high-stakes exchange between Rubio and Wadephul reflects a broader effort to keep communication channels open among key allies while navigating the delicate balance between supporting Ukraine and negotiating an end to the conflict.

The US diplomatic posture was further clouded by the news that Rubio would skip today’s NATO Foreign Ministerial gathering in Brussels, a highly unusual absence for the top American diplomat at a critical time for the alliance.

Instead, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will represent the US at the meeting. Landau will discuss security priorities and advocate for increased Allied defense investment, while also meeting with US businesses to promote President Trump’s trade priorities, according to the State Department.

Analysts say these conversations are crucial as both sides prepare for upcoming meetings of NATO and the EU, where the future of military and financial aid for Kyiv will be on the agenda. As the war enters its fourth year, the US and Europe are grappling with the same central question: How to secure peace without conceding principles. Ultimately, the diplomatic dance leaves an open question hanging over the transatlantic alliance: whether Washington and Berlin can reconcile their competing definitions of a “lasting, sustainable peace” before the cracks in their united front become too wide to plaster over.

Source: kyivpost.com