Rubio Urges Zelensky to End War, Cites Ukraine Attacks on US-Owned Oil Vessels

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to find a path toward ending the ongoing conflict, citing concerns over Ukrainian attacks on vessels carrying American-owned oil in the Black Sea.

"We have seen strikes on energy vessels in the Black Sea. And there’s been complaints, a lot, because we have American companies calling us and saying, ‘Hey, that was our oil on that ship that was hit by Ukraine,'" Rubio stated in an interview released Sunday. He added, "I don’t believe Ukraine intentionally targeted them, but those ships got hit. And we already have a world that is facing an energy crisis. We don’t need any exacerbating situations."

Rubio also addressed Ukrainian President Zelensky's claims that the U.S. had paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine. "I don’t know where he’s getting these things from or why he’s saying these things to the press," Rubio told reporters. "There’s been no pause. Zelensky should be focused on bringing an end to this war."

These remarks come as tensions appear to be rising between Washington and Kyiv. President Trump announced on Oct. 9 that the U.S. would import hundreds of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel, a move aimed at easing domestic fuel prices. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have reported that access to Starshield, a military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system, was throttled, hindering air defense capabilities against Russian attacks.

Despite the complexities, Rubio indicated that the United States remains prepared to mediate a negotiated settlement to the conflict. "The United States remains willing, able, and prepared to play a mediating role if the opportunity presents itself to end this war through a negotiated settlement, which is how we think this war will ultimately end," he said. He characterized the war as largely focused on the Donetsk region, where neither side has achieved a significant breakthrough recently.