Marco Rubio on Russia and Ukraine

This article is adapted from an original published by Russia Matters, a Harvard project led by Davis Center associate Simon Saradzhyan.

When Donald Trump’s team announced Nov. 13 that it plans to appoint Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as the next secretary of state, few were surprised or bewildered. After all, the Republican senator has become a known quantity since assuming office in 2011, with his views and votes widely reported in U.S. and international media. Nevertheless, it is useful to recall what has been said about Russia, Ukraine, and other post-Soviet Eurasian states by a man likely to play a key role in shaping America’s policies toward these countries in the next four years (if officially nominated and confirmed).

Our exploration of various sources has revealed that, while never missing a chance to co-sponsor punitive measures against Russia over its aggression in Ukraine or other transgressions (especially if these measures benefit the U.S. economy), Rubio has come to believe that a negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine is the only realistic way to end the war. “I think Ukrainians have been incredibly brave and strong in their stand against Russia,” the senator said earlier this month. “But ultimately, what we're financing here is a stalemate, and it needs to be brought to an end. I believe common sense should prevail,” Rubio said, adding: “You don't have to be a fan of Vladimir Putin to want to end the war.”

Rubio shares Trump’s view that the Russian-Ukrainian war should be ended through peaceful negotiations rather than continued large-scale military aid by the West to Ukraine. In line with this belief, he voted against the $95 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine (and other countries) in April 2024, but voted in favor of aid to Ukraine in May 2022.

Rubio has also (at least recently¹) been a loyal supporter of Trump on China, professing hawkish views on Beijing, which he sees as a greater threat than Moscow. “Russia is an acute problem and it’s a present-day challenge. But it's a five-year or 10-year problem. China is a 100-year problem,” Rubio observed in 2022. He is also seen as likely to toe Trump’s line on reinstating the maximum pressure campaign on another of Russia’s partners in the anti-Western alignment, Iran.

Another issue on which Rubio appears to share views with Trump is the risk of a nuclear war. Like his presumptive future boss, Rubio is concerned that the imposition of a no-fly zone by NATO over Ukraine could cause the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to escalate into World War III. 

However, Rubio has deviated from Trump in some areas. For instance, Rubio has diverged from the NATO skeptics in Trump’s team by repeatedly co-sponsoring bills to strengthen U.S. entanglement in the NATO alliance, emphasizing that any U.S. exit from NATO should require congressional approval.

The below compilation of Rubio’s views and actions (such as votes) covers the past five years. It is part of Russia Matters’ “Competing Views” rubric, featuring prominent American figures’ takes on issues pertaining to Russia, U.S.-Russian relations, and broader U.S. policies affecting Russia. Quotes are divided into categories similar to those in Russia Matters’ news and analysis digests, reflecting the most pertinent topic areas for U.S.-Russian relations broadly and for the drivers of the two countries’ policies toward one another.

I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda

North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs:

• Two Republican senators, Marco Rubio and Bill Hagerty, have urged the Biden administration to take steps to sanction North Korea over the Asian country's growing cooperation with Russia in the context of the war with Ukraine. "We are concerned about news reports that Russia and North Korea are strengthening their relationship, which will aid [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's unwarranted and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine," the missive reads. (CONGDP*, 09.25.22)

  *Here and elsewhere: Congressional Documents and Publications via Factiva.

Iran and its nuclear program:

• Rubio issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it will extend sanctions waivers on Iran's civil nuclear program: “As Iran continues to violate its commitments, the U.S. should ensure that the regime in Tehran does not receive any support for its nuclear program from Russia, China and other foreign countries. It is time for the Administration to end these waivers and continue maximum pressure against the Iranian regime.” (CONGDP, 03.31.20)
• Rubio and several of his Senate colleagues introduced legislation to prohibit the Biden Administration from waiving congressionally mandated sanctions that prohibit activities that enhance Iran's civil nuclear program. “The Biden Administration is so desperate to cut a deal with the regime in Tehran they are willing to waive sanctions on Russia in order to guarantee Putin's help securing the agreement. This deal would do nothing to stop the Ayatollah from acquiring nuclear weapons and would simultaneously allow revenue to flow back into Vladimir Putin's war machine, all while benefiting the Maduro narco-regime. This lunacy is dangerous and threatens our national security interests.” (CONGDP, 03.18.22)

Humanitarian impact of the Ukraine conflict:

• Rubio and Senate colleagues introduced a bipartisan resolution calling for Vladimir Putin and members of the Russian regime to be held accountable for the numerous acts of war, aggression, and human rights abuses that Russian forces have committed during their invasion of Ukraine. (Rubio.senate.gov, 03.07.22)
• Rubio and fellow Sen. Tim Kaine called on Biden to assist Ukraine in holding Putin and his enablers accountable for their war crimes. “Public reporting suggests that these camps are the earliest indications of coordinated, state-directed atrocities against the Ukrainian people. Escapees from these camps describe ghetto-like conditions where Russian authorities seek to identify individuals with ties to the Ukrainian military, journalists or civil society. ... Some reports estimate as many as 400,000 Ukrainians have been processed by these camps, including through forcible deportations, to work in remote regions of Russia, provide support for the Russian forces occupying their own country and have been tortured.” (CONGDP, 03.24.22)
• Rubio remarked that it might take Ukraine “nearly a century” to recover from the war, pointing out the extensive destruction and the lengthy process required to rebuild the country's infrastructure and economy. (The New Voice of Ukraine, 11.09.24)

Military and security aspects of the Ukraine conflict and their impacts:

• Rubio predicted that neither Russia nor Ukraine will be able to claim true victory at the end of the war. “There is no way that the Russian Federation takes Ukraine, all of Ukraine, or half of Ukraine, and that was Putin’s goal from the beginning,” Rubio said. “On the other side of it, the reality of it is that Ukraine is small compared to Russia in terms of size and its ability to bring scale,” he said of the invaded country’s military might when it comes to defending all of its borders. (NY Post, 03.03.24)

Military and security aid to Ukraine

• Rubio and 33 of his Republican colleagues introduced the Never Yielding Europe's Territory (NYET) Act to provide the critical support Ukraine needs to defend itself and deter Russian aggression, while imposing real costs on the Kremlin for its ongoing and potential future aggression against Ukraine. "We cannot return to a world in which countries can simply choose to invade their neighbors — it is dangerous and destructive," Rubio said. "The United States must be ready to impose real and harsh consequences if Putin decides to invade Ukraine. Our legislation would do exactly that." (CONGDP, 02.15.22)
• Rubio voted in favor of the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022. (Senate.gov, 05.19.22)
• "Congress has been dragging the president to lead," Rubio said on Fox News in criticizing Biden's approach to the Ukraine war. But a review of attendance logs show that, since 2017, Rubio was present at only one Helsinki Commission hearing and provided written testimony for one other. A total of 48 hearings occurred over that time, and many included topics specifically dealing with NATO and Russian policy affairs. (Business Insider, 03.17.24)
• Rubio and other U.S. senators introduced the Securing American Acquisitions, Readiness and Military Stockpiles (ARMS) Act, which would give the Department of Defense enhanced procurement authorities to quickly refill American defense stockpiles after the President provides aid to allies, such as Ukraine. (CONGVDP, 06.21.22)
• In April 2024, Rubio voted against the $95 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine and has urged the eastern European nation to negotiate an end to its war with Russia. (Fox News, 11.11.24)

Punitive measures related to Russia’s war against Ukraine and their impact globally:

• Rubio and another senator introduced the Preventing Usurpation of Power and Privileges by Extralegal Territories' Sedition (PUPPETS) Act to sanction individuals who assist in establishing puppet governments in Ukraine. "The world will become a very scary place if we allow thugs like Putin to invade sovereign nations without severe consequence. We must be clear and unyielding in our support for the Ukrainian people's fight against a merciless tyrant, and that begins with calling his actions for what they are — an act of terrorism. Any participants in or supporters of this evil scheme should be prepared to face the consequences," said Rubio. (CONGDP, 03.02.22)
• Rubio introduced the Instituting Measures to Protect American Investors and Retirees from Russia (IMPAIR Russia) Act, which would prohibit U.S. institutional investment in Russian securities. "Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has left the Russian economy in shambles. We need to minimize the resultant harm to Americans, including teachers and retirees, who have pensions and retirement accounts invested in Russian securities," Rubio said. "Many Americans do not even realize that fund managers have placed their money in these Russian companies. My bill would change that, protecting American retirees and denying Russian companies a critical source of capital." (CONGDP, 03.02.22)
• Rubio introduced the Protecting American Food Producers from Russia's Market Distortions Act. The bill would prohibit the importation of Russian agricultural products, raw materials, and food until certain conditions are met. "For nearly a decade, Russia unfairly punished American producers, and it is time to level the playing field," Rubio said. "A war criminal such as Putin should not be allowed to have an unfair advantage over American food producers." (CONGDP, 05.04.22)
• Rubio and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to the Treasury Department regarding the delayed implementation of Rubio's Corporate Transparency Act. “These delays run contrary to the clear instructions of Congress, undermine American efforts to respond to Russia's war against Ukraine, and hinder broader efforts to protect the U.S. financial system against the threat of illicit finance,” they wrote in the letter. (CONGDP, 05.10.22)
• Rubio co-led led bipartisan members of the Senate Intelligence Committee in urging the Biden administration to increase sanctions on enablers of Vladimir Putin's regime amidst its unprovoked and illegal war in Ukraine. "While many of the Putin regime's top figures are already subject to United States, European and other nations' sanctions, we believe it is important that lower-tier enablers of the regime's aggressive policies, including its militarists, propagandists, corrupt officials, public supporters, senior federal officials and legislators, also be subject to a sanctions regime to ensure that they cannot continue to support Russia's reprehensible aggression, yet benefit from assets, vacations or educational opportunities in the West,” the senators said. (CONGDP, 06.03.22)
• In order to bolster support for Ukraine and defend against efforts to force Ukraine to give up its sovereign territory, Rubio and other U.S. senators introduced the Non-Recognition of Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Act. The bill would require U.S. policy to not recognize any Russian claim of sovereignty over any portion of the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and prohibit any federal department or agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that implies recognition of Russian claims over Ukraine. "There is no amount of propaganda or political scheming that can change the reality of what is happening in Ukraine," said Rubio. "Vladimir Putin is the real aggressor in this war, and he is attempting an unjustified takeover of a sovereign, democratic country. The United States cannot recognize Putin's claims or we risk establishing a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes, like the Chinese Communist Party, to imitate." (CONGDP, 09.22.22)
• Rubio reintroduced the Protecting American Food Producers from Russia's Market Distortions Act to prohibit the importation of Russian agricultural products, raw materials, and food until certain conditions are met. "President Biden cannot claim to be tough on Putin if the U.S. allows this unfair advantage over American food producers to continue. It is time to level the playing field, protect American producers, and deny Putin's regime a source of desperately needed income." Said Senator Rubio (CONGDP, 09.19.23)

Ukraine-related negotiations:

• Rubio and several other U.S. senators sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing concern that the Biden Administration is welcoming a role for China in the diplomatic mediation of Russia's war in Ukraine. "A role for China in Ukraine will significantly undermine U.S. interests, Ukraine's future in Europe, and overall European security. The administration's policy should not allow China to absolve itself for its support of Russia or use this war for its longer-term political and economic benefit," wrote the senators. (CONGDP, 07.20.23)
• Rubio is generally part of his party's internationalist wing and has supported U.S. aid to Ukraine. 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,” he said. (Mail Online, 03.21.24)
• "I'm not on Russia's side, but unfortunately the reality of it is that the way the war in Ukraine is going to end is with a negotiated settlement. And I want and we want and I believe Donald Trump wants for Ukraine to have more leverage in that negotiation," Rubio said. According to him, the Biden administration also believes the Russia-Ukraine war will eventually end with negotiations. "We hope that when that time comes there is more leverage on the Ukrainian side than on the Russian side," Rubio added. (RBC Ukraine, 09.30.24)
• Rubio believes Russia’s war against Ukraine has reached a stalemate and needs to be brought to an end, he said on the Today show Nov. 6. At the same time, Rubio praised the courage and strength of Ukrainians in resisting Russia. “I think Ukrainians have been incredibly brave and strong in their stand against Russia,” Rubio said. “But ultimately, what we're financing here is a stalemate, and it needs to be brought to an end. I believe common sense should prevail.” "You don't have to be a fan of [Russian dictator] Vladimir Putin to want to end the war," he added. (The New Voice of Ukraine, 11.09.24)
• "I would be comfortable with a deal that ends these hostilities and that I think is favorable to Ukraine, meaning that they have their own sovereignty, that they don’t become a satellite state or a puppet state that is constantly held hostage by the Russians. I’m not going to prejudge any agreement." (Kyiv Post, 11.12.24)

Great Power rivalry/new Cold War/NATO-Russia relations:

• “The U.S. must be clear-eyed about the situation at hand: Putin will support the Maduro regime at nearly any cost, so long as it thwarts Venezuela’s return to democracy, frustrates U.S. policy goals, and undermines the stability and security of democracies in Latin America,” Rubio wrote. (The Hill, 02.10.20)
• On the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA)for Fiscal Year 2021: "As a nation, we face ever-expanding threats from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Our legislation is vital to the Intelligence Community, and it provides the men and women who serve our nation the tools they need to keep our country safe.” (CONGDP, 06.03.20)
• “Both the Kremlin and the Communist Party of China are engaged globally in a large-scale disinformation campaign trying to discredit the American-origin vaccines, particularly Moderna and Pfizer, and promote their own. … But what are we doing to counter that in particular, this sort of disinformation campaign about vaccines, specifically in Latin America?” Rubio asked during a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee hearing. (USPEO, 11.18.21)
• Rubio and other U.S. senators sent a letter to Biden urging him to use diplomatic talks at the NATO-Russia Council meeting to deter Putin from further invading Ukraine and make clear that the U.S. will not accept Putin's demands to dictate NATO's decision-making. "We support close engagement with our allies to ensure a coordinated and unambiguous response to Putin's brinkmanship and ask that the administration and its allies continue to unequivocally rebuke Putin's military threats and provocations against our allies," the senators wrote. "It is imperative the United States demonstrate our resolve and refuse to appease Putin's unacceptable list of demands." (CONGDP, 01.10.22)
• Sens. Marco Rubio and Democrat Bob Menendez introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to increase security cooperation with Latin America and counter the "destabilizing" influence of China and Russia in the region. The proposal calls on the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense to present a strategy plan to Congress to increase the defense and security of allied countries in the region. (CE NoticiasFinancieras, 02.07.22)
• Rubio said that the regime of Nicolas Maduro is a "facilitator and supporter" of the crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. In a message on Twitter the senator expressed "Vladimir Putin's allies such as the narco-regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and the Castro regime in Cuba are facilitators and supporters of the war crimes and atrocities committed by the Russian military in Ukraine." (CE NoticiasFinancieras, 03.01.22)
• The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the Western Hemisphere Security Strategy Act of 2022. In a joint statement, Sens. Rubio and Menendez said the bill seeks to enhance U.S. engagement with the region "at a time when the destabilizing impact of authoritarian regimes and transnational criminal organizations, in addition to the malign activities of state actors such as China and Russia, pose risks to the national security" of the country. (CE Latin America Migration, 07.20.22)
• Rubio and other senators sent a letter to Biden requesting that he not support any loans to Argentina because of its closeness to the "dictatorships of Russia and Iran." (CE NoticiasFinancieras, 05.03.22)
• Rubio sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for appropriate designation of parties whose significant purchase of Russian materiel enable Russia's destabilizing actions. “Russia is Algeria's largest military supplier. Algeria is also among the top four purchasers of Russian arms worldwide, culminating with a $7 billion arms deal in 2021. Influx of money from any source to Russia will only further enable Russia's war machine in Ukraine. Yet, sanctions available to you have not yet been utilized." "I encourage you to take the threat Russia continues to pose to global stability seriously and to appropriately designate parties whose significant purchase of Russian materiel enable Russia's destabilizing actions." (CONGDP, 09.15.22)
• "This year's Intelligence Authorization Act ensures that the Intelligence Community (IC) has the resources, authorities and personnel to protect America's national security and counter the growing threats from autocracies like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba. This bill further enhances U.S. counterintelligence screening, foreign intelligence collection and analysis, and emerging technology capabilities to focus the IC on addressing our primary national security threat in the 21st century — countering Communist China," Rubio said of the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. (CONGDP, 12.19.22)
• “We’re now entering a new era. What is that new era? What is our vision now for that world in which the global international order and World Without Walls do not pacify or bind nations, but in fact have now placed us in situations where autocracies, through a joint communique, are openly signaling that we need to reject Western visions of democracy and the like.” (Rubio.senate.gov, 02.09.23)
• Rubio and other U.S. senators introduced a bill would block the Thrift Savings Plan from investing in firms based in or closely affiliated with China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. (SCMP, 05.18.23)
• Rubio and two other U.S. senators introduced a bill to explicitly prohibit any president of the United States from withdrawing from NATO without Senate approval or an Act of Congress. "NATO serves as an essential military alliance that protects shared military interests and enhances America's international presence," said Rubio. "Any decision to leave the alliance should be rigorously debated and considered by the U.S. Congress with the input of the American people." (CONGDP, 07.12.23)
• Rubio defended Trump's controversial comment that he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to a NATO member country that didn't meet defense spending guidelines. "That's not what happened, and that's not how I view that statement," he argued when asked whether he was comfortable with Trump's suggestion that he wouldn't defend NATO countries. Rubio went on to note that the U.S. did not leave NATO during Trump's presidency—though Trump made private threats about withdrawing multiple times, according to NYT. "Donald Trump is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations," Rubio told CNN. "He doesn't talk like a traditional politician, and we've already been through this. You would think people would've figured it out by now." (CNN, 02.11.24)
• Rubio proposed a bill to enhance defense cooperation with India, enabling India to benefit from technology transfers similar to those enjoyed by the U.S.'s closest defense partners-South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and Japan. (The Nation, 07.28.24)
• Rubio and Rick Scott introduced a resolution calling for accountability of the Cuban regime's heinous crimes against its citizens. "The world is bearing witness to the multiple ways the Castro/Diaz-Canel regime has served as a puppet for Communist China, Iran, and most recently Russia. America has a moral duty to defend our nation's interests and we must continue to uphold democratic order and justice in our hemisphere." (CONGDP, 08.12.24)

China-Russia: Allied or aligned?

• “Russia considers China to be its most important strategic partner. Having antagonized many nations to its west and finding itself diplomatically isolated as a result, Moscow has in recent years looked to a fellow authoritarian regime in Beijing to develop a rapport. This relationship has continued in the form of enhanced cooperation in digital infrastructure, military exercises, as well as growing trade relations.” (CONGDP, 08.24.20)
• “Russia is an acute problem and it’s a present-day challenge," said Rubio. “But it's a five-year or 10-year problem. China is a 100-year problem, both in the region² and internationally.” In the immediate aftermath of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, senior officials in Moscow warned Russia could deploy troops or military assets to Cuba and Venezuela if the U.S. and NATO insist on meddling on Russia’s doorstep. Rubio said the threats were mostly bluster aimed at gaining leverage over the U.S. while appealing to regular Russians who are sympathetic to Putin's great-power narrative. But he said the real strategic threat is posed by China, whose influence successive U.S. administrations have been unable to stem. (AP, 03.30.22)
• “The Chinese Communist Party’s continued support for Putin’s war on Ukraine is not surprising. Putin and Xi are dictators who want to see America and our allies weakened. Any entity, including Chinese state-run companies, helping them in that effort should face serious consequences.” (Rubio.senate.gov, 07.27.22)
• “If we go back to the late eighties or early nineties, the end of the Cold War, the gamble at the time was if we created this international economic order led by the U.S. and the West … We admitted China to the World Trade Organization, Russia as well. Wealth certainly increased, particularly in China through its export-driven economy. There was a massive, historic, unprecedented amount of economic growth in that regard. But I don’t think we can say either China or Russia are more democratic. In fact, they’re more autocratic. I don’t think we can say that they’re more peaceful. Russia has invaded Ukraine twice now, and the Chinese are conducting live fire drills off the coast of Taiwan. I think it’s fair to say that gamble failed.” (Rubio.senate.gov, 02.09.23)
• “Sanctions [on Chinese companies providing dual-use goods to Russia] are long overdue. Anyone providing dual-use goods to Russia is fueling Putin’s war against Ukraine. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration gave a free pass to Putin’s most generous supporter: the Chinese Communist Party. President Biden cannot claim to stand with Ukraine if he is not willing to punish the Chinese entities and individuals helping to support Putin’s unjustified war.” (Rubio.senate.gov, 09.14.23)

Nuclear arms

• Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted repeated calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for an international no-fly zone to protect his country, but these have been roundly rejected by the United States and its NATO allies, who say it could provoke all-out war in Europe. But even some of Biden's staunchest opponents in Congress have been adamantly opposed, with Rubio warning it could bring about "World War III." (Reuters, 03.09.22)
  • "A no-fly zone has become a catchphrase. I'm not sure a lot of people fully understand what that means," Rubio said. "That means flying AWACS [Airborne Warning And Control Systems] 24 hours a day, that means the willingness to shoot down and engage Russian airplanes in the sky. That means, frankly, you can't put those planes up there unless they're willing to knock out the anti-aircraft systems that the Russians have deployed, and not just in Ukraine, but Russia and also in Belarus." "So basically a no-fly zone, if people understand what it means, it means World War III. It means starting World War III," Rubio added. "It's not some rule you pass that everybody has to oblige by. It's the willingness to shoot down the aircrafts of the Russian Federation, which is basically the beginning of World War III." (Business Insider, 03.06.22)
• The likelihood of Putin launching a strike against a NATO ally rises by the day, as the Russian leader has few options left to win the war, Rubio said. "I think that is quite possible that he could end up striking some of these distribution places where these supplies are coming through, including inside Poland. … A lot of talk about nuclear, but I think the thing I worry most about is a Russian attack inside NATO territory for example aiming at the airport in Poland or some other distribution point." (Express, 10.04.22)
• Amid reports of Russian naval ships and a nuclear-powered submarine stationed in Cuba, Rubio issued a statement: “What we’re seeing ninety miles from our shores is the direct result of the Biden Administration’s weakness. There must be real consequences for Russia and Cuba. … The Biden Administration concessions to the Cuban regime have only emboldened the dictatorship to welcome Russian warships, including a nuclear capable submarine this time.” (Rubio.senate.gov, 06.12.24)

Counterterrorism:

• The terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, for which the Afghan branch of ISIS claimed responsibility, became possible, among other things, due to the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and may be repeated on American territory, Rubio said. "Under the administration of [former U.S. President Donald] Trump, the ISIS is actually out of the game. They had less than a thousand fighters left, ... and now they have recovered, partly because, after leaving Afghanistan, we were unable to launch regular strikes against them," Rubio said. According to him, the ISIS terrorists "...would very much like to do in the U.S. what they did in Moscow," so the American authorities need to remain vigilant. (WPS, 03.26.24)

Conflict in Syria:

• “In Syria, Russia has spent nearly a decade lending critical support to the Bashar al-Assad regime's bloody conflict. But now, Putin is reportedly fed up with his ally. The seemingly endless Syrian conflict has undermined the global norm against chemical weapons use. It has also led to hundreds of thousands of dead and millions of refugees. Now Putin can't get out, despite the investment of precious budgetary resources and military capability. Moreover, the Russian treasury is in no shape to rebuild Syria. Assad's interests are not Putin's and do not factor into his plans.” (CONGDP, 08.24.20)

Cyber security/AI:

• Rubio said in comments on a suspected Russian hacking attack: “The methods used to carry out the cyberattack are consistent with Russian cyber operations, but it’s crucial we have complete certainty about who is behind this.” He added: “We can’t afford to be wrong on attribution, because America must retaliate, and not just with sanctions.” "This is almost, I would argue — an act of war, absolutely,” he said. (The Independent, 12.19.20)
• Rubio said he would soon introduce legislation to address ransomware threats. "Only a strong and clear message will deter [Russian President Vladimir] Putin from engaging in behavior detrimental to a stable U.S.-Russian relationship," Rubio wrote in a letter to Biden ahead of the president's meeting with Putin. (Reuters, 06.15.21)
• “If Putin launches cyber warfare, we've never had a cyberwar. We don't know how quickly that escalates, what that can become. So, there's a lot to worry about here in terms of this thing escalating beyond Ukraine.” (Fox News, 02.14.22)
• Rubio and other senators introduced the Protecting Military Service Members' Data Act of 2022. The bill would protect the data of U.S. service-members by preventing data brokers from selling lists that aggregate the personal information of U.S. military personnel to adversarial nations, including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. (CONGDP, 05.19.22)
• Rubio announced bipartisan legislation to ban China’s popular social media app TikTok amid U.S. fears the app could be used to spy on Americans and censure content. The legislation would block all transactions from any social media company in or under the influence of China and Russia, Rubio’s office said. (Reuters, 12.13.22)
• A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators said they had sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg questioning the company about documents that they say reveal that Facebook developers in China and Russia had access to user data. "It appears from these documents that Facebook has known, since at least September 2018, that hundreds of thousands of developers in countries Facebook characterized as 'high-risk,' including the People’s Republic of China (PRC), had access to significant amounts of sensitive user data," Mark Warner and Rubio wrote. (Reuters, 02.06.23)
• Rubio and several other U.S. senators introduced the Protecting Military Service Members' Data Act of 2023 to protect the data of U.S. service members by preventing data brokers from selling lists of military personnel to adversarial nations including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.  "It is common sense to prevent big data companies and shady brokers from selling information about our military personnel to foreign adversaries who can use that information to harm our nation. This bill would protect the privacy of service-members and mitigate this obvious national security risk." (CONGDP, 03.29.23)

Energy exports from CIS:

• Rubio issued the following statement after reports indicate that the Biden Administration will waive sanctions on the company constructing the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline.  "If true, President Biden just delivered a huge victory to Vladimir Putin, who will now have a stranglehold over Europe's natural gas supplies. Then-candidate Biden promised to be tough on Russia, but it is increasingly clear that was just campaign rhetoric. There is absolutely no excuse for giving Putin more leverage over our allies and partners, including Ukraine. It is dangerous, naive, deceitful and weak." (CONGDP, 05.18.21)
• Rubio and other senators introduced the Expediting Natural Gas Exports to Allies Act to expedite approval for natural gas exports to supply allies and U.S international partners in response to tensions with Russia and China. "Too many of our allies have allowed themselves to become dangerously dependent on Russian natural gas. Expediting the approval of U.S. natural gas exports to allies and strategic partners is a common-sense step to reduce our allies' economic reliance on strategic adversaries while creating more jobs for Americans at home." (CONGDP, 02.17.22)
• Rubio said that Biden would be agreeing with the regime of Nicolás Maduro to buy oil from Venezuela, using as an "excuse" sanctions on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. "Biden is using Russia as an excuse to make the deal he always wanted to make anyway with the Maduro regime," Rubio wrote on his Twitter and Instagram social networks. (CE NoticiasFinancieras, 03.06.22)
• A growing number of U.S. officials are calling for a ban on Russian oil and gas imports to pressure Russia’s economy despite concerns that such a move could raise already high gas prices for American consumers. Officials including Rubio called for a U.S. ban as part of the ongoing bid to hinder the Russian economy over its invasion of Ukraine. (Cape Times, 03.08.22)
• "The United States is blessed to have a plentiful supply of oil and natural gas—we should be using it," said Rubio while co-sponsoring the Preempting Misguided Appeasement and Financing of Destabilizing Regimes Act. "American-produced energy is cleaner and provides good jobs for American workers, yet the Biden Administration would rather appease dictatorships in Iran and Venezuela in return for bad deals and false promises. Under no circumstance should we be funneling money into the hands of dictators and narco-terrorists who are also allies of Vladimir Putin. Enough is enough—it's time to bring energy production back home." (CONGDP, 03.10.22)
• Rubio and several other senators have introduced the House companion, the Small-Scale LNG Access Act. The bill highlights the importance of U.S. liquified natural gas to America's energy independence and national security. (CONGDP, 03.21.22)
• To further cut off Russia's revenue and combat Beijing's continued support for Putin, Rubio and other senators introduced legislation to impose mandatory sanctions on any entity which registers, provides insurance to, or facilitates registration of any vessel engaged in the shipment of Russian oil, petroleum products or natural gas to the PRC. "The Chinese Communist Party's continued support for Putin's war on Ukraine is not surprising. Putin and Xi are dictators who want to see America and our allies weakened. Any entity, including Chinese state-run companies, helping them in that effort should face serious consequences." (CONGDP, 07.27.22)
• Rubio and another U.S. senator reintroduced the Expediting Natural Gas Exports to Allies Act to expand expedited export approval processes under the Natural Gas Act to projects intended to supply allies and key strategic partners like Ukraine and Taiwan, which are threatened by aggression from Russia and the Chinese Communist Party. (CONGDP, 06.29.23)
• Rubio and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are pressing the Department of Defense on its apparent purchase of sanctioned Russian oil as revealed by recent reporting. "The United States has led efforts to impose significant economic sanctions on Vladimir Putin and his Russian supporters that provide funding for Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine," the Senators wrote. "While the DoD does not bear the responsibility of enforcing U.S. sanctions, it has a responsibility to make the best effort possible to prevent sanctioned goods from entering its supply chain." (CONGDP, 12.04.23)

Elections interference:

• “It is imperative that the United States establish meaningful consequences for elections interference by Russia or any other foreign state. The NDAA is legislation designed to protect our country from foreign adversaries. We cannot think of a better vehicle for a provision like the DETER Act, which will defend the integrity of our democratic process from outside attacks," U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rubio wrote to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. (CONGDP, 11.15.19)
• Rubio released the following statement regarding the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's report titled, "Review of the Intelligence Community Assessment," the fourth volume in the Committee's bipartisan investigation into Russia's attempts to interfere with the 2016 U.S. elections.  "Policymakers rely on unbiased intelligence assessments to make sound decisions, and the work of our nation's Intelligence Community remains an irreplaceable com.” (CONGDP, 04.21.20)
• "Hostile foreign actors—including Russia, China and Iran—will continue to attempt to sow division and undermine our democracy." (INDFED, 06.26.20)
• Rubio and Mark Warner (D-VA) released the following joint statement: "Today, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted to adopt the classified version of the final volume of the Committee's bipartisan Russia investigation. In the coming days, the Committee will work to incorporate any additional views, as well as work with the Intelligence Community to formalize a properly redacted, declassified, publicly releasable version of the Volume 5 report." (CONGDP, 08.04.20)
• "We know with certainty that Russia, China and other nations are actively exploiting our domestic political divisions and looking for opportunities to undermine confidence in our elections. Given our nation's current challenges—a perfect storm of a global pandemic, public lockdowns, subsequent economic turmoil and social unrest—these efforts could be like throwing a match on an oil slick.” (CONGDP, 08.06.20)
• Rubio and Warner released the fifth and final volume of the Committee’s bipartisan Russia investigation. “We can say, without any hesitation, that the Committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election,” they said. (Intelligence.senate.gov, 08.18.20)
• Rubio and Warner released the following joint statement following the announcement made by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Christopher Wray regarding threats from adversaries to U.S. election systems and infrastructure.  "To the American people and the media, we reiterate the need to be skeptical of sensationalist, last-minute claims about election infrastructure. State, local and federal officials, and partners in social media and tech, should be proud of joint efforts to shut down Iranian and Russian efforts.” (CONGDP, 10.22.20)
• A bipartisan coalition of Senators, including Rubio, agreed to push for the reclassification of Marc Fogel's case as "wrongfully detained" under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. Fogel, a U.S. citizen, is currently imprisoned in Russia and was recently sentenced to 14 years at a maximum-security penal colony for possession of less than an ounce of medical marijuana. The reclassification will allow Fogel to receive the level of support awarded to political prisoners and eventually secure his freedom. (CONGDP, 08.23.22)
• Rubio and several other U.S. senators introduced the Preventing Adversary Influence, Disinformation and Obscured Foreign Financing Act (PAID OFF Act), which would help close Foreign Agents Registration Act registration loopholes that allow unregistered agents of foreign adversaries to lobby in the United States.  "Federal law should not provide protection for entities who are willing to do business with our enemies. If a lobbyist or consultant wants to work with our adversaries to subvert American interests, we deserve to know about it. Our bill would ensure U.S. law no longer provides cover for these corrupt cronies." (VCONGDP, 09.20.22)

U.S.-Russian relations in general:

• Rubio and other senators introduced a bill to instruct the U.S. representatives at the World Bank to vote against and use their best efforts to deny any loan or extension to countries like China and Russia that exceed the graduation thresholds or that are designated as a country of concern for religious freedom.  "For too long, countries like China and Russia have been allowed to exploit the World Bank's limited resources even after they should no longer qualify for assistance," Rubio said. (CONGDP, 12.12.19)
• Rubio and other senators introduced the bipartisan Holding Russia Accountable for Malign Activities Act of 2020. This bill would impose targeted sanctions on Russian officials complicit in brazen violations of international law, including the recent poisoning of opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny. The legislation also requires a report on the personal wealth amassed by the corrupt practices of Vladimir Putin and his inner circle. Additionally, it directs the administration to determine if the Kremlin has violated U.S. laws prohibiting the use of chemical and biological weapons.
• "Vladimir Putin has proven he will stop at nothing to silence or intimidate Russian citizens who speak out against his abuses and rampant corruption, including by poisoning them," Rubio said. "I'm proud to join Sen. Coons in introducing this bipartisan bill to impose a cost on Putin and his cronies involved in the attempts to murder opposition figures or dissidents as well as those helping the regime cover-up these attacks." (CONGDP, 09.24.20)
• Rubio and other senators introduced the bipartisan Holding Russia Accountable for Malign Activities Act of 2021, a targeted bill that would impose sanctions on Russian officials complicit in brazen violations of international law.
• "Following yesterday's outrageous sentencing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, I'm proud to join Sen. Coons in standing with the Russian people," said Rubio. "The Holding Russia Accountable for Malign Activities Act will impose a cost on Putin, and his thugs, for their corruption and targeting of opponents." (INDFED, 02.03.21)
• "I support the Biden Administration's actions against the Russian government, in particular the overdue expulsion of Russian personnel who have been exploiting our open system," Rubio said. "Russian malign activity—including the poisonings and assassinations of Putin critics to cyber espionage to invading neighboring countries and their theft and meddling in democratic elections—demands a strong response. The best way to deter future cyber-attacks, domestic meddling, and foreign aggression is for the U.S. Government to respond aggressively to Putin's corrupt regime.” (Rubio.senate.gov, 04.15.21)
• Rubio and other senators urged Biden to expel 300 Russian diplomats from the United States if Moscow does not issue more visas for Americans to represent Washington in Russia. (Postmedia Breaking News, 10.05.21)
• Rubio asked Victoria Nuland, undersecretary of state: “I'm sure you're aware that the Russian propaganda groups are already putting out there all kinds of information about how they've uncovered a plot by the Ukrainians to release biological weapons in the country with NATO's coordination. If there is a biological or chemical weapon incident or attack inside of Ukraine, is there any doubt in your mind that 100%, it would be the Russians that would be behind it?”  (CONGDP, 03.08.22)
• Rubio and several other senators introduced legislation to reauthorize the independent, bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) through fiscal year 2024. (CONGDP, 03.22.22)

II. Russia’s domestic policies

Domestic politics, economy and energy:

• Rubio and Ben Cardin, on the fifth anniversary of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov's assassination, announced a resolution condemning Russia's practice of politically motivated imprisonment and calling for the release of political prisoners in Russia. The resolution also urges the Trump Administration to use the tools provided by Congress to impose sanctions against Russian officials responsible for human rights abuses. (CONGDP, 02.27.20)
• “Given Russia's dire economic and demographic forecasts and growing domestic repression, it's no surprise that Putin would look abroad for diversions. Putin's promise to restore Russia's role in the world came at the expense of the Russians people, who are left with an anemic economy, a rigged electoral system, and suppression of their basic freedoms. Much like Putin's foreign adventurism, the goal has simply been to enrich himself and his inner circle. Those considering relying on the Kremlin should realize that they will have no long-term stable partner in Russia while he remains in power.” (CONGDP, 08.24.20)
• Rubio repudiated that U.S. consultancy McKinsey banned its employees from participating in protests in Russia in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. "It is no secret that McKinsey maintains close trade ties with Russian government agencies and Kremlin-linked companies," he stressed. "I am increasingly concerned about your work on behalf of the United States Government," he adds. (CE NoticiasFinancieras, 01.24.21)
• Rubio and Chuck Grassley introduced the Halting Enrichment of Russian Oligarchs and Industry Allies of Moscow's Schemes to Leverage its Abject Villainy Abroad (HEROIAM SLAVA) Act, which would impose sweeping sanctions on all Russian state-owned enterprises.  "No Russian state-owned enterprise should have access to American capital while a bloodthirsty dictator is waging an invasion against Ukraine.”  (Interfax, 03.03.22)
• Rubio tweeted: "Something is off with Putin." (WSJ, 03.04.22)
• Rubio issued a statement after a Russian court declared opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza a "foreign agent" and charged him with spreading "false" information. "Vladimir Kara-Murza is a staunch human rights advocate and civil society defender in Russia. Kara-Murza has suffered two assassination attempts and now faces an unjust prison sentence based on bogus charges. Sadly, as the Kremlin's barbaric assault on Ukraine has proven, truth, justice, and respect for the rule of law mean absolutely nothing to a murderous thug like Vladimir Putin. As the free world awaits Kara-Murza's final sentence, we must continue to support his cause by ensuring that Putin is held accountable for his countless war crimes as well as his crackdown on civil society and opposition leaders." (CONGDP, 03.25.22)
• Rubio and Bob Menendez introduced a resolution to commemorate World Press Freedom Day and recognize the growing threats to press freedom and free expression worldwide. "Journalists provide crucial insights into human suffering, corruption, and unrest worldwide," Rubio said. "Sadly, authoritarians such as those in the People's Republic of China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and Nicaragua are fiercely determined to censure any voice that challenges their own twisted narratives. I am proud to introduce this resolution and lend my unwavering support to the cause of press freedom worldwide." (CONGDP, 05.03.22)
• Rubio and colleagues introduced a resolution honoring Kara-Murza and condemning his unjust detention. The bipartisan resolution pays tribute to Kara-Murza's advocacy for human rights in Russia and support for the anti-war movement. Additionally, it urges the U.S. and allied states to secure his immediate release, and calls for the U.S. government to support the cause of democracy and human rights in Russia. (CONGDP, 05.16.22)
• Rubio and Dick Durbin sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding those responsible for the poisoning and imprisonment of Kara-Murza be held accountable under Magnitsky-authorized sanctions.“Mr. Kara-Murza is a Russian patriot who has worked tirelessly for decades to advance the cause of freedom, democracy, and human rights for the Russian people,” they wrote. (CONGDP, 07.04.22)
• “[Alexei] Navalny’s tragic death at the hands of the Putin bloodthirsty regime is a stark reminder that Putin and his thugs will stop at nothing to silence dissent or those who might expose the level of corruption in the Kremlin. Two years ago, I had the honor of meeting with Leonid Volkov, Navalny’s then chief of staff, and it was clear that the Russian people’s aspirations for a nation free of authoritarianism is alive and well. We must continue to stand with those brave Russians who dare to speak out and continue to press for the release of political prisoners such as Vladimir Kara-Murza.” (Rubio.senate.gov, 02.16.24)

Defense and aerospace:

• Rubio introduced the Deterring Errant Behavior Risking International Space (DEBRIS) Act, legislation that would impose sanctions on foreign actors that recklessly create space debris, which endangers American operations in orbit. "Russia and China should be held accountable for negligently creating space debris and endangering space assets critical to our national security. My bill would create consequences for this dangerous behavior and protect our astronauts and space infrastructure." (CONGDP, 03.22.22)
• Rubio asked the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a safety review of Russian airlines and alert Americans to the risks of Russian-administered aircraft continuing to operate in international airspace. "So long as Russian airlines maintain such operations, they pose a potential threat to international travelers, as well as to Russians flying domestically," Rubio wrote. (Reuters, 06.23.22)

III. Russia’s relations with other countries

Russia’s external policies, including relations with “far abroad” countries:

• “Any country's leadership being courted by Moscow should ask why. Putin is always working an angle for himself. What country's people are better off for its leadership forming a partnership with Putin's Russia? Putin's conduct abroad is patterned after his conduct at home: support thugs, undermine democracy and steal everything that isn't nailed to the wall. And other than oil, the only things the Kremlin exports these days are war crimes, cybercrime, election interference and its own private military company, the Wagner Group, run by close Putin confidant Yevgeni Prigozhin.” (CONGDP, 08.24.20)
• “Moscow is also amid a major effort to cultivate relations with New Delhi, as well. India is crucial for economic and geopolitical reasons, its government is a longtime purchaser of Russian military equipment. But India is a vibrant democracy and is moving decisively toward other liberal democracies to confront authoritarian states. Putin shouldn't count on helicopter purchases to maintain friendly relations with India as he blatantly cozies up to China.” (CONGDP, 08.24.20)

Ukraine:

• Two Republican senators are facing criticism after tweeting photos of a video call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy even though participating lawmakers were told to not share pictures on social media while it was in progress. Sens. Marco Rubio and Steve Daines posted pictures of Zelenskyy on their Twitter accounts during the Zoom meeting, writing that they were on a call with him. (NBC, 03.05.22)
• Also see sections above on military aspects of the conflict, military aid, and negotiations.

Russia's other post-Soviet neighbors:

• “Just imagine what Putin might do in Belarus in the aftermath of the recent sham elections. He won't be lifting up the voices of Belarusians; instead he'll aid a weakened Alexander Lukashenko in repressing the nation's citizens and further undermine security in Europe.” (CONGDP, 08.24.20)

Footnotes

1. Before dropping out of the U.S. presidential race in 2016, Rubio called Trump a “con artist” who would fracture the GOP, according to The Washington Post. During that race, Rubio also said Trump was unfit to be trusted with nuclear launch authority, according to WaPo.
2. Latin America and the Caribbean.

The opinions expressed in this compilation are solely those of the individual(s) cited. The opinions expressed in the introductory text are the authors'.