Ukraine blasts Russia Day well-wishers as Rubio sends greetings to Moscow – POLITICO

In his congratulatory message, Rubio wrote that the U.S. “remains committed to supporting the Russian people as they continue to build on their aspirations for a brighter future.”

“We also take this opportunity to reaffirm the United States’ desire for constructive engagement with the Russian Federation to bring about a durable peace between Russia and Ukraine,” he wrote. “It is our hope that peace will foster more mutually beneficial relations between our countries.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called Rubio’s greeting “very positive news,” which confirms that the current White House administration is “completely different from the previous Biden administration.”

Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has sought to reset relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, who he has praised repeatedly since first taking office in 2016. But in recent weeks, Trump has shown signs of frustration with Putin and questioned Moscow’s willingness to make peace with Ukraine.

“Russia is simply lying to Trump,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday, adding that he hopes the White House recognizes that.