Ukraine foreign minister backs ‘peace through strength’ in message to US’s Marco Rubio

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Nov 14 said he hoped Mr Marco Rubio, the nominee for US secretary of state, would pursue a policy of “peace through strength” amid questions of how the new administration will deal with the war in Ukraine.

“Congratulations to @MarcoRubio on his nomination to become the 72nd US secretary of state,” Mr Sybiha wrote on X.

“I look forward to working together, deepening the mutually beneficial Ukraine-US strategic partnership, and advancing peace through strength in Ukraine and around the world.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to “peace through strength” in congratulating

Donald Trump on his election

and used the term when addressing European leaders and ruling out concessions to Moscow in the more than 2½-year-old war.

Mr Zelensky has presented a “victory plan” to allies that focuses on providing Kyiv with the means to defend itself and calls for an invitation for Ukraine to join Nato, long denounced by Russia as unacceptable.

Trump said on Nov 13 he was

nominating Mr Rubio

, a member of the Senate's foreign relations and intelligence committees.

Mr Rubio has in the past advocated a more assertive US foreign policy with respect to America’s geopolitical foes, but has recently aligned his views more closely with those of Trump’s “America First” approach.

In April, Mr Rubio was one of 15 Republican senators to vote against a big military aid package to help Ukraine resist Russia and support other US partners.

In recent interviews, he has said that Ukraine should seek a negotiated settlement rather than focus on regaining territory seized by Russian troops.

Trump has been critical of Democratic President Joe Biden’s

continuing military assistance for Ukraine

. REUTERS