Rubio Celebrates Russia Day with Call for Constructive Engagement and Lasting Peace in Ukraine

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended his congratulations to the Russian people on Russia Day, marking the first occasion a high-ranking U.S. official has done so since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, «The United States is dedicated to supporting the Russian populace as they strive towards their hopes for a brighter future.»

The statement further emphasized, «We also wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to engaging constructively with the Russian Federation in pursuit of a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.»

Russia Day, celebrated every year on June 12, honors the nation’s declaration of sovereignty in 1990 and the initiation of constitutional reforms during the final years of the Soviet Union.

Rubio’s message represents the first acknowledgment of Russia Day by the U.S. State Department since 2021, when then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken also sent greetings to the Russian people.

Since Donald Trump assumed the presidency in January, his administration has sought to repair the frayed relations with Russia, which had reached their lowest point due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Beyond advocating for a negotiated solution to the war, Washington and Moscow have initiated discussions to restore normal operations at their diplomatic missions.

Rubio expressed on Thursday, «We hope that peace will lead to more mutually beneficial relationships between our nations.»

Later that day, the Kremlin referred to Rubio’s congratulatory remarks as «very positive news.»

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated to state media, «This once again demonstrates that the current administration in Washington is entirely different from the Biden administration.»