US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that President Donald Trump`s patience was not unlimited and that he had both the ability and the options to impose sanctions on Russia, citing Rubio’s speech at a UN Security Council meeting. He said the war between Russia and Ukraine had proven to be an exceptionally difficult challenge. He noted that Donald Trump and his team had worked hard on settlement efforts, devoting significant time and energy.

He added that Trump had shown "extraordinary patience" in avoiding additional sanctions against Russia. However, the current situation, Rubio warned, was moving toward deeper escalation, citing the increased number of strikes and violations of NATO airspace. Rubio stressed that US patience was not unlimited.

"The president is a very patient man. He`s very committed to peace, but his patience is not infinite. Donald Trump has refrained from additional sanctions in hopes of a breakthrough but stressed there may come a point when Washington concludes that Moscow has no interest in a peaceful resolution.

At that stage, the administration is ready to impose additional economic costs on Russia.

We`ve entered a period of what appears to be potentially even escalation, with some of the historically highest numbers of strikes we’ve seen over the last few nights and before. And now, we are also watching incursions into neighboring airspace by both drones and airplanes.

The US is still open to a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war… This war needs to end. But if it does not, if there is no path to peace in the short term, then the United States and President Donald J Trump will take the steps necessary to impose costs for continued aggression", - said Marco Rubio.