‘Just Don’t Get It’: Rubio Tears Into Stephanopoulos Over Russia Claims, Says Sooner Everyone ‘Grows Up’ The Better

Secretary of State Marco Rubio tore into ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Sunday over the U.S.’ relationship with Russia, stating the “sooner” people “grow up,” the closer they can get to ending the Ukraine-Russia war.

After a heated discussion in the Oval Office between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the White House called off the potential mineral deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, with Trump stating Zelenskyy was not ready for “peace.” On ABC’s This Week, Stephanopoulos questioned Rubio about the now-strained relationship with Ukraine, before attempting to highlight how GOP allies, like Republican Arkansas Sen. Lisa Murkowski, have claimed the U.S. is “embracing Putin.”

“Well, which ones? What steps has the president taken to placate?” Rubio asked as Stephanopolous attempted to read Murkowski’s statement. “Are we arming the Russians? Are we providing economic assistance to the Russians? Have we given the Russians $180 million? What are we doing to placate them?”

In a post on X, Murkowski stated that not only did Trump officials refuse “to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine,” but the tense Oval Office interaction left her feeling “sick” to her stomach “as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies.”

“We’re a free country, people have a right to these opinions,” Rubio responded. “I would just say to you, what have we done to placate the Russians? The only thing we’ve done is say, are you guys willing to talk about peace? I say the same point. We’re not giving that — ”

However, Stephanopoulos quickly stepped in to state that the U.S. voted with “North Korea, Russia, and Belarus in the United Nations and against our Western allies,” referring to a European-drafted UN resolution on Monday addressing Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine.