Rubio Prepares For Senate Grilling Over Ukraine, Other Foreign Policy Challenges

US State Secretary Marco Rubio plans to convince senators today that President Donald Trump’s Ukraine policy is centered on ‘moving decisively’ to end the war.

Rubio is set to testify about the budget before the Senate Foreign Relations and Senate Appropriation Committees today, where he may face criticism from his former colleagues over the Trump administration’s handling of the key foreign policy challenges, as well as the recent changes at the State Department, especially the drastic cuts in critical programs.

Rubio is planning to defend Trump’s vision of an America-first foreign policy, according to the initial version of prepared Senate testimony seen by Kyiv Post.

“Today, America is back. Secure borders, safe communities, and zero tolerance for criminal cartels are once again the guiding principles of our foreign policy,” he will tell senators.

In his prepared remarks, Rubio will also highlight that the State Department “has taken President Trump’s policy message across Europe, securing the NATO Secretary General’s commitment to increased defense spending, recalibrating transatlantic political and economic relations to better serve American interests, and alongside Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, moving decisively to end the Ukraine war.”

Several high-ranking senators, including Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat at the Foreign Relations Committee, have already hinted that they were concerned about the administration’s Ukraine policy, including most recently, following the resignation of US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, who blamed the Trump administration’s policy of putting “pressure on the victim, Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia.”

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“Ambassador Brink’s is another principled resignation prompted by the Trump Admin’s irresponsible policy. We’re losing a great diplomat who served five presidents over 30 years – Republican and Democrat alike. It shouldn’t be controversial to advise that we not appease a war criminal,” Shaheen said in her reaction.

Another key senator, Lindsay Graham, who last week joined Rubio in his meetings with NATO counterparts in Antalya, said in a statement that while he shares Trump’s desire to end the war, when it comes to Russia’s games, “enough is enough.”

“Ukraine has agreed to a ceasefire. Ukraine’s President came to Turkey – as suggested by President Trump – to talk peace with Putin. Putin, on the other hand, has decided not to attend and instead sent a low-level delegation to continue the same old storyline. I consider this decision inconsistent with wanting peace and an affront to those trying to make peace,” he said.“I expect a very strong bipartisan statement of disappointment regarding Russia’s decision in Istanbul,” he added.Graham went on to add that Putin’s Russia is playing games and this needs to stop.

“I have over 70 cosponsors for sanctions against Russia if they continue the course they are on. This legislation also puts tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas and other products,” he said.

Rubio’s appearance before Senate committees comes just a day after the Trump-Putin call. While the White House described the conversation as “excellent,” the Kremlin has again refused to agree to a ceasefire despite pressure from Ukraine and its European allies.

This will be Rubio’s first testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since his nomination hearing on Jan. 15.

He will present the administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget request for the State Department.  According to him, the budget, totaling $28.5 billion, will allow the Department to “fulfill its mission while also proposing the recission of $20 billion in duplicative, wasteful, and ideologically driven programs.