BY MIRANDA NAZZARO – 03/03/24 10:10
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Sunday offered his prediction for how the Russia-Ukraine war could unfold, arguing neither side will “achieve victory as defined in the most idealistic terms.”
When asked by “Fox News Sunday” anchor Shannon Bream how much “pressure” the U.S. or other international leaders should put on Russia and Ukraine to find a solution, Rubio said, “I’m not going to set parameters on what that looks like. It’s not our place to do that; it’s premature to do that.”
“Here’s what I do know, there is no way that the Russia Federation takes Ukraine, all of Ukraine, half of Ukraine and that was [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s goal from the beginning was to carve it up into half… at least half the country, including Kyiv, that’s not going to happen,” Rubio, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, continued.
Rubio, however, said it is important to look at the “reality” of Ukraine’s size and ability in comparison to Russia.
“We have the reality of it is that Ukraine is small compared to Russia in terms of size and its ability to bring scale, its ability to force, conscript people… I’m just being honest,” he said. “You know, in the past, I have tried not to talk about this publicly because I thought it undermined the leverage that Ukraine had, but now it’s the reality.”
Russia’s war with Ukraine surpassed its two-year mark late last month, with neither side appearing open to conceding. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week said losing the war against Russia would amount to the same tragic end as death.
“Neither side is going to be able to achieve victory as defined in the most idealistic terms,” Rubio said. “So then the question becomes if in fact, there’s going to be a negotiated settlement, who’s going to have the leverage here? Is it going to be Putin or is it going to be Ukraine, and I want Ukraine to have the most amount of leverage possible when the time comes for those conversations to happen.”
The Florida Republican argued Putin wants Ukraine to become “basically a satellite state,” like Belarus, in which the country is forced to “remain neutral.”
Increasing divisions among lawmakers have left U.S. aid for Ukraine in limbo for nearly a year as Congress struggles to agree on further funding for the Eastern European nation. Rubio, along with most of the GOP conference, voted against a bipartisan border security deal last month that would’ve also unlocked aid for the country.
Rubio also voted against a $95 billionemergency defense spending bill last month, including about $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. The deal passed in the upper chamber and headed to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces pressure to bring it to the floor. Johnson has signaled he will not bring the legislation to the floor as it lacks the border security provisions demanded by House GOP members in recent months.
Rubio on Sunday reiterated his argument that while he believes the U.S. should help Ukraine, this can only be after further action is taken on the U.S. southern border.
That is absolutely piss-weak Marco.
When running for president in 2015, he published “the Rubio doctrine”, which explained his Reagan-like attitude to putler and how he would respond to the threat.
Now he’s gone all trumpy-wumpy and wants to give land for peace.
Who got to him?
Known then as “the Rubot” for stubbornly repeating the same soundbites time and again. 🤖
Why MAGA Loves Russia and Hates Ukraine:
https://dnyuz.com/2024/02/08/why-maga-loves-russia-and-hates-ukraine/
Has any senior Dem thought of approaching Speaker Johnson and testing the water :
“What exactly is it you want inserted into the border bill that will guarantee your approval of Ukraine Aid?”
If he continues to wriggle, then obviously Ukraine Aid is finished until and unless Biden finds a quick workaround.
Well, there’s still the discharge motion as an option, but under House rules, that can only be tried at the end of the month. I don’t think Biden should wait that long.
A bill must be sitting around for 30 days before a discharge petition can be called out for it. Those 30 days are over by a long shot.
Rubio showed his colors the POS. In essence, he’s saying it’s ok to invade another country and commit genocide. He’s a fuckin asshole.
I agree with Rubio. The truth is sometimes painful, but must be told. He like many, kept quiet to not hurt Ukraine. I said this long time ago and got shit-stormed. So be it. Ukrainian lives are the ukrainian resource which has more value than the stinky occupied territories. Still i support the aid package because i want Ukraine to be in a more comfortable position on the battlefield when negotiations finally kick off. If Ukraine has to negotiate while being cornered nothing good will come out of it.
Ok, Mike, but can you explain why Rubio supports thecstop of arms deliveries while at the same time stating “I want Ukraine to have the most amount of leverage possible when the time comes for those conversations to happen”? Quite obviously, the lack of ammunition puts Ukraine in a much worse condition, reduces its leverage in negotiations, don’t you agree? If Rubio was serious, he should make a stand to get the support bill passed, me thinks. 🤔
I fully agree here, as i stated in my comment.
If only Rubio was as reasonable, too. Or less afraid of Trump. And he’s not the only one without a spine:
“Ted Cruz’s foreign policy: arm Ukraine faster, avoid direct war with Russia and drill more U.S. oil” (2022)
“Cruz, Cornyn join Senate Republicans in demanding border overhaul for Ukraine aid
Texas Republicans refuse to back continued aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan without a major hardening of border security policy.” (2023)
It’s not enough to only focus 😁 on our southern border, we must force Mexico to close their southern border and stop the illegals already there. I supported Cruz in 2016, but he disappointed me alot since he lost to Trump, he lost profile. I still hope the aid bill will pass asap. Future aid packages could be tied to some demands from Kyiv (Negotiations, fight against corruption…), but this one should finally pass tonight if possible.
“we must force Mexico to close their southern border”
Why use force instead of “the art of the deal”? To send some billions to Mexico every year, instead of putting them into maintenance of the useless fence, would do wonders for convincing that government of the urgent need to send immigrants back south. Hey, ain’t that the Trump way of doing business, after all? 😁
Mexico is not interested in stopping immigrants from going through Mexico to the US. Mexico traditionally has a problem with immigrants from Central and South America trying to stay in Mexico illegally to work as the Mexican standard of living is much higher than their home countries.
Mexico has no interest in stopping their citizens from immigrating illegally to the US either. In 2022 the approximately 11 million Mexican immigrants in the US sent $55 billion dollars they “earned “ in the US back to families in Mexico. This money represents 5% of Mexican national GDP, doubled from ten years ago.
You think Russia will stop when you make a deal with them?
I think a “negotiated settlement” achieves nothing.
We already had 2 of such settlements and Russia didn’t stick to it for a single day.
Rubio is just a typical pro-Russian arsegiver.
^bert
And you are just an ignorant Bert.
“Rubio on Sunday reiterated his argument that while he believes the U.S. should help Ukraine, this can only be after further action is taken on the U.S. southern border.”
I take this at face value as I believe this is the actual belief and position that several Republicans in Congress share. They are sympathetic to Ukraine and want to help Ukraine. They aren’t Putin lovers/Putin supporters/Putin allies et al. They are appalled by Putin’s actions, they just believe it is at least as important to secure the US southern border.
At least 7 million “undocumented” immigrants from over 110 countries from around the world have crossed into the US since Biden became President. Additionally over 1 million “got aways” have crossed the border without being caught by the border patrol. Many of the 7 million are single males of military age at least some of whom are members of the drug cartels, criminals, and/or from countries that are hostile to to the US (Venezuela, communist China, Iran etc.) At least some of the others are minors escorted by what are often non relatives/gang members who are destined to be sex and sweat shop slaves in the US. According to numerous polls, the border situation is unacceptable to the vast majority of Americans.
It seems to me there is plenty of blame for some of the Republicans in Congress for not passing Ukrainian military support. However at least part of the blame belongs to the far left/no borders progressive Democratic Congressmen who refuse to make any serious border security compromises and are also willing to let Ukrainian support die rather than give the Republicans a “win”on border security in an election year.
Well, you shouldn’t have taken that at face value:
“Republicans Killed the Border Deal to Help Trump. Now They Need a Reason. Here come the backfilled rationales.”
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/republicans-killed-border-deal-reasons-trump-ukraine-immigration.html
See, Trump simply doesn’t want any bill supporting Ukraine to pass, he hates that country since Zelensky refused to play along in the consöiracy to smear Biden. Doesn’t matter what’s exactly in that bill, this is only about the big loudmouth’s thirst for revenge.
The Democrats practically gave in two all of the Republicans demands. Secondly border security and aid for Ukraine are completely unrelated.
^bert