U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s stance on Russia during a Senate hearing Tuesday, firmly denying that any concessions had been made to President Vladimir Putin amid ongoing criticism over the administration’s Ukraine policy.
“He hasn’t gotten a single concession,” Rubio said, referring to Putin, as reported by AFP. His remarks were in response to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who accused Trump of weakening U.S. leverage and emboldening Russia.
Shaheen argued that Trump’s recent approach has given Putin time and incentive to gain ground in Ukraine, especially with continued Chinese support. “Because President Trump has given away our leverage, Putin doesn’t feel pressured to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine,” she said.
Rubio pushed back, noting that while Trump is reluctant to impose new sanctions—unlike the European Union, which enacted fresh penalties on Tuesday—he believes keeping diplomatic channels open with Moscow is crucial.
“Trump believes that if you threaten sanctions now, the Russians might shut down communication entirely,” Rubio explained. “There’s value in keeping them at the table and pushing them toward a resolution.”
He acknowledged, however, that if Russia continues to reject peace efforts, harsher measures might become necessary.
