Rubio drops reality bomb on Russia-Ukraine war; elicits laughs during shining confirmation testimony

Marco Rubio didn’t hold back during his Senate confirmation hearing and dropped some hard reality on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

President-elect Donald Trump tapped the Florida Republican as the next Secretary of State under his upcoming administration. During a wide-ranging grilling on Wednesday, Rubio made it clear where he stands on the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

“This war has to end,” Rubio stated arguing that the U.S. should adopt that declaration as its official policy. He also maintained that the deadly conflict is neither “realistic” nor “prudent.”

Rubio called for “bold diplomacy” before diving into what he hopes to see from the warring nations.

“There is no way Russia takes all of Ukraine,” Rubio told his colleagues on the Hill.

Rubio, however, called major gains against Russia “unrealistic” adding, “a nation the size of Ukraine — no matter how incompetent and no matter how much damage the Russian Federation has suffered as a result of this invasion — there’s no way Ukraine is also going to push these people all the way back to where they were on the eve of the invasion, just given the size dynamic.”

MARCO RUBIO: Ukraine war has to end. It should be the official policy of the U.S. that it has to end. This will not be easy, but it’s going to require bold diplomacy. It can begin with a ceasefire. We need to set and achieve OBJECTIVES, concessions will need to be made. Then,… pic.twitter.com/SI30rEfRmx

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 15, 2025

The Florida Republican urged his colleagues to be “realistic” and strive for an “end goal” in regards to U.S. involvement in the 3-year-long war.

This signals good news for Americans outraged over the billions of taxpayer dollars given to Ukraine by the Biden administration.

But before the nations see peace Rubio said both sides will need to make “concessions” and argued the United States can play a critical role in negotiating a potential deal.

“It’s also important that there be some balance on both sides,” Rubio said. “In essence, it will be difficult to achieve this objective of a cease-fire and ultimately a peace settlement, unless both sides have leverage.”

More from Rubio’s “pitch perfect” take on Ukraine:

Marco Rubio’s answer on Ukraine is pitch perfect. First, he makes clear that America’s border security MUST come first, before any funding goes to far-off battlefields. Second, he affirms President Trump’s demand that the “killing must stop” and calls for an end to the war and an… pic.twitter.com/WjxhDN8uBh

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 15, 2025

Rubio not only shined on the topic of Ukraine but also delivered several more memorable moments during the confirmation hearing. He got a chuckle out of the Senate panel when Code Pink protesters showed up to interrupt his opening remarks.

Adnaan, Code Pink’s Washington DC Coordinator, and other Code Pink activists were arrested today for attempting to disrupt @marcorubio‘s Confirmation Hearing. pic.twitter.com/RpZaxjEcCw

— Stu (@thestustustudio) January 15, 2025

“I get bilingual protesters,” Rubio joked after one of them reportedly was yelling in Spanish.

“I get bilingual protestors,” jokes Rubio as another Code Pink protestor is escorted out of committee, this one shouting in Spanish.

— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) January 15, 2025

Rubio also had a moment when he played off a compliment from Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) according to Fox News.

“Sen. Rubio, the President [elect] made a great decision in choosing you,” Booker said. “You’re a thought leader in foreign policy. I, however, don’t think most Americans know how great of a thought leader you are in NCAA, NFL and high school football, and I’m a little disappointed that you’re not going to the head of the NCAA right now.”

“Not yet,” Rubio responded, eliciting laughs from the room, Fox reported.

But the Florida Republican’s comedic skills didn’t end there. Perhaps one of his best light-hearted exchanges was with Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth is disabled and shared a moving moment she had with Rubio when she was first elected to the Senate and was pregnant at the time:

Tammy Duckworth to Rubio: “When I first got to Senate I was pregnant with my daughter and trying to change Senate rules so I could bring her onto the floor so I could do my job and vote…not accessible to wheelchairs…You came running down to me ‘I’m with you! I support you!” pic.twitter.com/z7rdGGLOfS

— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 15, 2025

“And you came running down from the top back of the Senate chambers to tell me, ‘I’m with you. I will support you’,” Duckworth recalled. “And I just want to thank you for that kindness… It was a moment of true bipartisanship.”

Rubio’s response garnered more laughs, including from Duckworth: “I think what I exactly said is, ‘What’s the big deal? This place is already full of babies.'”

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