WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back against media criticism on Sunday, rejecting calls for him to publicly confront Russia and President Vladimir Putin as the U.S. pursues delicate negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Rubio argued that diplomacy works best out of the spotlight. “What utility would there be of me going on a program and telling you we wagged our finger at Putin and told him you must do this?” he said. “As much as everyone would love it to be a live PPV event, these discussions ONLY work best when they are conducted privately.”

The Secretary’s remarks came as both he and President Donald Trump continue pressing forward with peace efforts following Trump’s recent Alaska summit with Putin. While the meeting did not produce an immediate breakthrough, both sides described the talks as extensive and “frank,” with Trump vowing to keep pushing for a deal to halt the conflict.

Rubio’s comments reflect a broader strategy by the administration to manage diplomacy quietly rather than through public confrontations. Analysts note that while this approach shields negotiations from political theater, it also opens the administration to criticism from those demanding tougher public rhetoric against Moscow.

For now, Rubio and Trump maintain that the priority remains securing a real, lasting peace in Ukraine — not scoring headlines.