Rubio Declines to Call Putin a War Criminal

During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to label Russian President Vladimir Putin a 'war criminal,' despite acknowledging that war crimes have occurred in Ukraine. Rubio argued that calling Putin a war criminal could impede diplomatic negotiations led by President Trump, which he views as the top priority to end the conflict. His stance was criticized as inconsistent with his prior remarks as a senator, where he had condemned Putin's actions more directly. Rubio defended the necessity of diplomatic engagement with adversaries, citing historical U.S.-Russia crisis talks. He also warned that overcommitting to Ukraine could detract from U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, by contrast, has publicly labeled Putin a war criminal, exposing divisions within the U.S. administration.