U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said active efforts are under way to resolve the territorial dispute over Donetsk, calling it the most difficult remaining obstacle in U.S.-mediated talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rubio said negotiators have narrowed the talks to this single core issue, but warned it would be “very difficult” to bridge the gap.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine surrender all of the Donbas region, including the remaining 20% of Donetsk still under Kyiv’s control, threatening to seize it by force if it is not handed over in a peace deal. Ukraine has firmly rejected territorial concessions, saying it will not cede land Russia has failed to capture militarily, a stance widely supported by Ukrainian public opinion and most of the international community.

Rubio said the United States may participate in follow-up talks expected in Abu Dhabi, though senior envoys involved in earlier discussions will not attend. Previous talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials ended without an agreement, but both sides signaled willingness to continue dialogue. Rubio also indicated that U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine could come into effect only after the conflict ends, amid reports that Washington is pressing Kyiv to accept a peace deal as a condition for long-term security support.

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