U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has admitted that the Ukraine war is a proxy conflict between nuclear powers—the U.S. backing Ukraine and Russia. His remarks align with Moscow’s long-standing claims. This comes after Washington halted military aid to Ukraine, demanding Kyiv commit to peace talks. Meanwhile, U.S.-Russia diplomatic talks have resumed for the first time in years, discussing embassy restrictions and direct flights. Moscow welcomes the dialogue, but Europe and Ukraine are alarmed by the shift.