Stop Striking at America’s Allies While Supporting Dictator War Criminals

Target: Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State

Goal: Reaffirm support for Ukraine and unequivocally condemn Russia for its invasion.

“I hope I’m going to be remembered as a peacemaker.” The President of the United States (POTUS) made this statement before a consequential meeting with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky. Before the meeting concluded, it had devolved into a spectacle that ended with President Zelensky essentially being thrown out of the White House, absent a minerals deal that POTUS had touted. Shock reverberated across the globe. “What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful,” Senator Lindsey Graham said of the debacle. But while loyalist Graham tried to assign blame to Ukraine’s leader, much of the country and most of the rest of the world saw things very differently. One notable exception was Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was quick to celebrate the shameful display. Putin was likely equally elated when the United States recently broke with its allies and sided with Russia during a United Nations vote on Russia’s culpability in the Ukraine invasion.

The Oval Office meeting began going off the rails when President Zelensky tried to caution the president and vice president about believing any of Putin’s claims for a ceasefire. Zelensky cited several instances where Putin had violated prior agreements. Vice President JD Vance quickly interjected himself and accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful” and of never thanking the United States for assistance, which the Ukrainian president has done multiple times. Both the president and vice president then proceeded to talk over and shout down Zelensky at every opportunity. Near the end of the exchange, POTUS seemingly backed Putin while denigrating his presidential predecessors and relitigating old grudges.  POTUS’ final takeaway when he abruptly ended the meeting: “This’ll make great television.”

While the U.S. leader’s priority rested in making “great television” and in exacting vengeance by pausing Ukraine’s Congressionally-approved aid, European leaders were quick to reaffirm their support for the nation that’s been under constant attack for three years. Sign the petition below to demand the U.S. Secretary of State speak up and show the necessary leadership where his political allies will not.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

“You’re gambling with World War III.” President Trump recently made this statement. He did not, however, direct it at the leader whose actions have a haunting echo of another infamous leader prior to World War II. Rather, he directed these audacious words at an American ally whose country has been under constant siege from a supposed American enemy for three years. The planet bore the consequences of appeasement during World War II. If the worst did happen and World War III did commence, on whose side would America stand? This is a very real and very consequential question being asked around the globe.

“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.” Do these words sound familiar, Secretary? They should, because they came from your lips after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Will the man who used to speak so loudly against the “war criminal” now stand back and declare that America’s ally should be the one to apologize? Will he stand back and refuse to acknowledge that a country that sacrificed its nuclear arsenal because of broken promises from Russia and the United States has a reason to worry about future promises? Will he stand against the 80 percent of the American people who do not trust Vladimir Putin, and will he stand against his own stated principles?

Or will you stand up and honor the oath you took, not to be beholden to temporary and fleeting power but to be a leader for American democracy and for democracy around the world?  Make your true voice heard on Ukraine before the opportunity is lost forever.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Executive Office of the President