US top diplomat: Moscow won’t reach its original war aims

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 Putin’s vulnerability, Kyiv Post reports.

Russia’s flagship economic forum opened under a plume of thick black smoke on June 3 after Ukrainian strikes reportedly hit energy and military targets in St. Petersburg, disrupting the Kremlin’s annual showcase of economic resilience.

The timing of the strikes coincided with sharp comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as a “strategic disaster” during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill.

Rubio told US lawmakers there was “no doubt” Russia would fail to achieve the core objectives set at the outset 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.”

The strikes came as approximately 20,000 delegates from 130 countries gathered for the three-day St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the Kremlin’s flagship business event often referred to as “Russia’s Davos.”

Black smoke from the reported attacks was visible from the conference venue as the opening sessions began on June 3.

Ukrainian officials said the strikes targeted an oil terminal and the Kronstadt military base in St. Petersburg.

Ukraine’s deputy defence minister had earlier urged NATO lawmakers to support Ukrainian arms production, stating that Ukraine could manufacture up to 20 million drones annually with sufficient investment. Kyiv is seeking $60 billion in support in 2026 to expand its battlefield capabilities and long-range strike capacity.

By Vafa Guliyeva