He is in a very difficult position because his long-held beliefs are not the ones he has been tasked to defend now.”

As a senator, Marco Rubio prided himself on challenging tyrants. But as secretary of state, President Trump has tasked him with helping to potentially turn Russia from an enemy into an ally.

The call with the Foreign Minister came after a “ very upset ” Rubio accused Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy of reneging on an agreement to give the United States mineral rights in the country as a condition of brokering peace, in order to defray costs incurred supporting Kyiv against the Russian invasion that started three years ago.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of trying to “hustle” the US by claiming in public that he unilaterally rejected a deal to sign away half

The White House promised “incredible opportunities” if Moscow ended the war in Ukraine. But Russia’s economy is struggling and the business environment is unpredictable.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rubio’s diplomatic experience is limited to his time in the Senate, during which he served on the Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senior Advisor Adam Boehler addressed key foreign policy developments, including the release of American teacher Marc Fogel from Russian detention, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,

The meeting is meant to pave the way for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.