In a recent interaction with independent journalist Catherine Herridge, Secretary of State Marco Rubio chose to echo President Donald Trump's criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rather than adopting a more conciliatory stance.
Rubio's remarks came in the wake of a meeting between American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia, a meeting that did not include Zelenskyy, who was not invited.
Zelenskyy, in response to his exclusion, cancelled his trip to the region, stating emphatically, "decisions on how to end the war in Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine, nor can any conditions be imposed." This statement was made in the context of a war that has seen no elections in Ukraine since February 2022, and a president whose term officially ended in May 2024, yet continues to rule.
As reported by The Blaze, Trump had previously suggested that Zelenskyy's absence from the Saudi Arabia talks was justified, given the Ukrainian leader's track record. He pointed out that Zelenskyy's protestations about lack of representation were hypocritical, given the absence of elections and the continued rule of an increasingly unpopular president. Trump further accused Ukraine of having a role in instigating the war.
Zelenskyy was swift in his response, accusing Trump of inhabiting a "disinformation space" and advising the former president's team to "be more truthful." However, the exchange did not end there. Trump, using his Truth Social platform, described Zelenskyy as a "dictator without elections" who wants to "keep the 'gravy train' going."
When questioned by Herridge about Trump's post, Rubio sided with Trump, stating that the former president's frustration with Zelenskyy was justified. He reminded viewers of an incident in June 2022 when then-President Joe Biden reprimanded Zelenskyy for his apparent lack of gratitude after the U.S. pledged an additional $1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.
Rubio also expressed his personal disappointment with Zelenskyy, recalling a meeting where he and the vice president discussed a potential joint venture involving mineral rights with the Ukrainian president. Rubio stated, "We explained to them, 'Look, we want to be in a joint venture with you, not because we're trying to steal from your country, but because we think that's actually a security guarantee. If we're your partner in an important economic endeavor, we get paid back some of the money taxpayers have given, close to $200 billion, and also now we have a vested interest in the security of Ukraine.'"
Rubio claimed that Zelenskyy had initially agreed to the proposal, only to publicly reject it later. "I read two days later that Zelenskyy is out there saying, 'I rejected the deal. I told him no way, that we're not doing that.' Well, that's not what happened in that meeting," Rubio said, expressing his frustration at the Ukrainian leader's actions.
Rubio defended Trump's criticisms of Zelenskyy, suggesting that Trump's message was that he would not be manipulated. He expressed hope that Zelenskyy would be a partner in peace, rather than someone who would attempt to "hustle" the U.S. with counter-messaging.
This sentiment was echoed by Vance, who Zelenskyy had previously labeled a "radical" and accused of being uninformed about the war. Vance stated on X, "What Secretary Rubio is saying here is exactly right." This exchange underscores the ongoing tensions and complexities in the relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine, as well as the challenges faced in resolving the ongoing conflict.
Login