U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, chosen by Donald Trump for the post of Secretary of State, said that both Ukraine and Russia must make concessions to end the war, European Pravda publication said.

"It is important for everyone to be realistic: there will have to be concessions – made by the Russian Federation, but also by the Ukrainians... It is also important that there be some balance on both sides," he said on Wednesday during a Senate hearing.

Speaking about the prospects for ending the war, Rubio said that it will not be an easy task. Rubio believes that Ukraine will not be able to oust Russian troops from its territory, and Russia is not capable of seizing all of Ukraine.

"There is no way Russia takes all of Ukraine. The Ukrainians are too brave and fight too hard, and the country is too big. That's not going to happen. It is also unrealistic to believe that somehow a nation the size of Ukraine... is going to push these people [Russian troops] all the way back to where they were on the eve of the invasion," Rubio said, adding that he agrees with the view that "Ukraine is not running out of money, but it is running out of Ukrainians."

He said both sides have leverage they could use to strengthen their hand in possible future peace talks. He also said Putin's goal could be to "impose neutrality" on Ukraine, get a break to recuperate, and return to Ukraine in four or five years – which is "not a development any of us would prefer."

Rubio criticized the current U.S. administration for its handling of the conflict, noting in particular that the United States has not had a clear strategy for the war under Biden. Rubio said the next U.S. administration will seek "bold diplomacy" to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

"This war has to end... It is going to be hard work, but it is going to require bold diplomacy," Rubio said.

Pete Hegseth, nominated by Donald Trump for the post of U.S. Secretary of Defense, said that the next administration understands the nature of the full-scale war in Ukraine and advocates for its speedy end.