US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 20, 2025, that international relations were in an “unusual situation” as the US administration led by President Donald Trump advocated for peace while some European leaders continued to call for military action. He made the remarks at a dinner for the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

"One of the cardinals I met in Rome said: it is very unusual for us that the American president wants peace, and some Europeans are constantly calling for military affairs, as if the world had turned upside down," — Rubio quoted his interlocutor.

He noted that Trump is trying to avoid excessive defense spending, preferring to direct funds to the development of the US economy. According to the Secretary of State, large sums allocated for national security could be invested in infrastructure, technology and other sectors that contribute to economic growth.

Rubio's statement comes amid the Trump administration's active diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. On May 19, Trump held a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Putin described as informative and frank. According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the timing of a ceasefire was not discussed, but Trump stressed his interest in reaching an agreement as soon as possible. Rubio had earlier, on May 15, said at a NATO ministerial meeting in Antalya that the United States was ready to support "any mechanism" for peace in Ukraine, emphasizing that the conflict must end diplomatically.