To the editor:

This is an open letter to Sen. Marco Rubio:

Dear Sen. Marco Rubio,

At my last official meeting with your staff I promised I would help disseminate two dossiers prepared by your office which contains a litany of facts regarding the Biden administration’s failure to equip Ukraine and deter Russia and, since I always keep my promises, here it is.

I have a question, though. Do you keep your promises?

Because two years ago exactly, as Russia launched a full- scale invasion against Ukraine, you made a speech during your March 2022 Senate Intelligence Hearing on Worldwide Threats, and you, Sen. Rubio, stated, “This is no time to forget lessons in history. Because this is a monster you cannot make a deal with. This is a monster that has to be destroyed.”

I want to know which monster was it that you were you referring to, Russia… or Ukraine?

Because after two years of destruction, during your Feb. 9 hour-long speech on Border and Foreign Aid, you stated “But ultimately the conflict in Ukraine will end in a negotiated outcome.”

Sen. Rubio, your statements were made a day after the infamous Tucker-Putin Interview was released, where Putin made the asinine suggestion that he was actually ready to negotiate Ukraine’s borders — but not with Ukraine, only with the U.S.

Did I take you out of context, Senator? Because on March 3 you then went on Fox News to say that “Neither side is going to be able to achieve victory as defined in the most idealistic terms. So then the question becomes if in fact, there’s going to be a negotiated settlement, who’s going to have the leverage here?”

My answer to your question, Senator, is in my understanding war between enemies is a non-negotiable militant state, historically all war ends with military action which only then is punctuated by an agreement, so in order to bring an end to war there must be significant military action, therefore there should be no question on “if” there will be negotiations because there…will…be…no…negotiations until Russia is forced to withdraw. There is no other viable alternative other than Russia continuing to capture Ukrainian territory, which is what they are actively attempting.

To expound why negotiations are unrealistic, on March 3 I spoke with Ukrainian Commander Yuri from the frontlines and he told me, “How you could negotiate with someone who came to your land, occupies territories, murders people, kills people, Ukrainian people, aggression. There’s nothing to talk with them really about without until they leave.”(Interview HERE)

You have recently speculated, Sen. Rubio, that “the Ukrainians are not going to wipe out the Russian military and the Russians are not going to be able to conquer half of Ukraine.” Sen. Rubio, I want to know by what measure you make this prediction?

Tell me, on the spectrum of reality and perception, who suffers more from profound disconnect? Is it me, who thinks that Ukraine has the proven ability to surprise and can actually restore its borders? Or is it those who believe that making territorial settlements will bring an end to conflict?

Because I know Ukrainians, and I know they will not live peacefully under Russian rule. I also know Russians, and I know that the current regime will continue to invade, unless the “monster” known as Vladimir Putin is “destroyed.” You can’t really expect us to believe that Putin will stop unless he is forced to.

From my position, I can tell you, it’s fantasy to think we are near an end to conflict or negotiations, and you have to be reading a lot of Russian intelligence and propaganda to believe it.

As for the members of Congress who still think that redrawing territorial boundaries is a realistic solution, they might want to consider if they want a taste of their own medicine in their own districts. Because quite frankly I believe the better option is to oust them if they continue to misrepresent the American public.

Alexandra Zakhvatayev

Cape Coral