Ukraine Slams Russia Day Greetings as Rubio’s Message to Moscow Draws Criticism
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sharply criticized countries that extended well-wishes to Moscow on Russia Day, condemning the move as inappropriate amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, The Gaze reports, citing Politico.
The rebuke came as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio broke precedent by sending formal greetings to the Russian people on the occasion of Russia Day, becoming the first senior U.S. official to do so since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. No other Western leaders aligned with Ukraine have issued similar messages this year.
Speaking during a meeting in Rome, Sybiha said it was “particularly unpleasant” for him to read “the public congratulations from certain countries to the Russian aggressor,” though he did not name specific states.
His comments underscored Ukraine’s growing frustration with what it sees as diplomatic normalization attempts that ignore the brutal realities of Russia’s war.
Rubio’s message, published Thursday, stated that the U.S. “remains committed to supporting the Russian people as they continue to build on their aspirations for a brighter future.”
He continued: “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. It is our hope that peace will foster more mutually beneficial relations between our countries.”
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has publicly sought a reset in relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, whom he has praised repeatedly since 2016. However, Trump has recently expressed frustration with Moscow’s lack of interest in a genuine peace process.
“Russia is simply lying to Trump,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday, warning that Moscow is manipulating goodwill and stressing that he hopes the current White House sees through the Kremlin’s duplicity.
Read more on The Gaze: Russia’s War on Ukraine: An Unprecedented Act of Genocide Targeting Ukraine’s National Identity and Existence