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2mo ago

Rubio Criticized for Congratulating Russians on Russia Day

Critics say the outreach overlooks Russia’s alleged atrocities in Ukraine.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the American Compass's The New World Gala in Washington, Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio gestures as he testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump's State Department budget request for the Department of State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
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The champagne may be on ice for Russia Day, but President Putin’s relationship with the US under President Trump has warmed considerably

Overview

  • Marco Rubio issued a Russia Day greeting that reaffirmed US support for the Russian people and expressed hope for durable peace talks with Moscow.
  • Economist Roman Sheremeta and columnist Julia Davis argued the message legitimizes a regime accused of genocide and insults Ukrainians facing Russian aggression.
  • Estonia’s foreign affairs chairman likened Rubio’s greeting to congratulating Nazi Germany in 1943.
  • Analysts noted that Rubio’s statement adopted a softer tone than Antony Blinken’s 2022 Russia Day messages, which explicitly condemned Kremlin repression.
  • The backlash highlights tensions in US diplomacy over balancing engagement with Russian civil society and holding Moscow accountable for alleged wartime atrocities.