Rubio Calls War a ‘Strategic Disaster’ for Russia as Putin’s ‘Davos’ Opens Under Black Smoke
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “strategic disaster” and said Moscow would not achieve its original war aims. His remarks came as Ukrainian strikes sent black smoke over St. Petersburg during Russia’s flagship economic forum, while NATO chief Mark Rutte mocked
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Russia’s flagship economic forum opened under a plume of thick black smoke on Wednesday after Ukrainian strikes hit energy and military sites in St. Petersburg, shattering the Kremlin’s showcase of economic resilience.
The disruption coincided with sharp remarks from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine a “strategic disaster” for Russia during an official hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill.
Rubio told US lawmakers there was “no doubt” that Russia would fail to achieve the core objectives it set at the start of its full-scale invasion.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt at this point, in the minds of most observers around the world, and I would say in the minds of some inside of Russia, that the invasion of Ukraine has been a strategic disaster for them,” Rubio said.
“They are not going to achieve the objectives they set out on day one, for certain. And they may not even be able to militarily ever achieve the objectives they’re demanding now in negotiations.”
Fire and smoke over St. Petersburg
The long-range strikes hit just as roughly 20,000 delegates from 130 countries gathered for the three-day St. Petersburg International Economic Forum – the Kremlin’s premier annual business summit, often dubbed “Russia’s Davos.”
Black smoke from the strikes was visible from the conference venue as the opening sessions began Wednesday, AFP reported.
Ukraine’s deputy defense minister on Tuesday urged NATO lawmakers to fund Ukrainian arms production, saying Ukraine could build up to 20 million drones annually with sufficient investment. Kyiv seeks $60 billio in 2026 support to expand its battlefield edge and long-range strike campaign.
Ukrainian officials said the attack targeted an oil terminal and the city’s Kronstadt military base.
“The Petersburg forum is opening with a nice plume of black smoke in the background after Ukrainian strikes,” said Sergiy Sternenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is still scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the forum on Friday.
Ukraine says strikes are retaliation
Kyiv has framed its deep strikes inside Russian territory as “fair” retaliation for Moscow’s relentless bombardment of Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was responding “accordingly” to Russian attacks and warned that Kyiv’s domestic defense capabilities are expanding.
“It’s just a matter of time before we can scale up the intensity of our responses,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine has increasingly used drones and long-range weapons to target Russian oil terminals, refineries, fuel depots, military facilities and logistics infrastructure – sites that help sustain Moscow’s war machine.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told AFP that Ukraine’s ability to hit deep behind Russian lines was rattling the Kremlin.
“It clearly shows panic on the Russian side,” Kallas said. “Why they are increasing the terrorist attacks that they’re doing in Ukraine is because they don’t know what to do with these things.”
“Putin is losing money, men, and momentum, and that’s why he’s increasing attacks on civilians,” she added.
Rutte: Putin needs Ukraine’s permission for his showcases
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte mocked Russia’s vulnerability, suggesting that Putin now needs Ukraine’s permission to hold major public spectacles without disruption.
Speaking alongside Zelensky in Kyiv, Rutte drew a pointed comparison with Russia’s May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, which was held after Zelensky issued a decree “allowing” the event to proceed during a temporary ceasefire.
“Ukraine is now so successful that Putin is only able to organize a 9 May parade with an official presidential decree by this president,” Rutte said, pointing to Zelensky.
“I think for two hours you allowed him to do it? And it ended in 1 hour and 55 minutes, so he didn’t risk,” Rutte concluded.
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