Rubio Says U.S. Backstop Is Essential to Ukraine Security Guarantees

Overview

• Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would play a key role in future guarantees for Kyiv.
• Rubio described a model in which small European contingents, primarily French and British, would deploy on the ground with U.S. support.
• He stated that U.S. involvement constitutes the real guarantee and that American troops are not expected to be part of any deployment in Ukraine.
• Rubio acknowledged the security mechanism remains undefined and noted that any arrangement would take effect only after hostilities end.
• He said Russia’s consent has not been secured and urged European allies to strengthen military capabilities after years of underinvestment.