US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after a conversation with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, said Washington „remains prepared" to mediate in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The statement came after one of the most massive Russian air attacks on Kyiv in recent months - with at least four casualties and significant material damage in the capital.

„The US is prepared and ready to do everything within its power to help bring an end to this war, and we hope that at some point an opportunity will appear," Rubio said in India. That is diplomatic language that formally keeps the American engagement alive without committing to anything concrete. Translation: we are waiting for the moment. We are not working on the moment. Waiting.

The context: the Russians called on all foreign citizens in Kyiv, including diplomatic staff, to leave the city ahead of further bombardments that would target „decision-making centres" and „military-industrial complex enterprises". That is a clear warning of escalation - not de-escalation.

On the other side, the Ukrainians delivered a lethal strike on a school in Russian-occupied territory just days before this Russian offensive. Both sides carry casualties, both sides accuse the other. With that, Rubio said: „Every time you see big attacks from both sides, it's a reminder why this terrible war... has to end". The rhetoric is empty - everyone knows it. The question is who will be the one to take the first real step.

For the Balkans, this war has been shaping everything for more than three years - energy prices, migration calculations, security investments, politics in Brussels. When Rubio says „it has to end", it sounds good. But the political will is not there. Both sides believe they can still gain more - and that is why electricity prices for next winter in our region no longer depend on California. They depend on Moscow and Kyiv.