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U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) are getting ratioed on Twitter for sharing screenshots of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Zoom in apparent violation of security protocol.
Zelenskyy or his team had apparently requested that no one on the Saturday-morning call with U.S. lawmakers share any images on social media for security reasons. The president has purportedly been endangered by three assassination attempts amidst the Russian invasion.
There were reportedly about 300 members of Congress and staffers in the virtual meeting with the leader of the war-torn country. Zelenskyy reportedly requested more warplanes as well as calling upon the U.S. to stop buying Russian oil.
After the meeting, various Republicans and Democrats posted screenshots.
“Zelenskyy opened the private video call with U.S. lawmakers by telling them this may be the last time they see him alive. He has remained in Kyiv, the capital, which has a vast Russian armored column threatening from the north,” AP reported.
NATO has turned down his request for a no-fly zone because it would dangerously escalate the conflict.
On zoom call now with President Zelensky of #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/xhgbpIwVD9
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 5, 2022
Owing to the U.S. dependence on oil imports from Russia and elsewhere under the Biden administration, which was a reversal of America’s energy independence during the Trump presidency, critics claim that America is helping fund Putin’s war machine.
An appropriation pending in Congress is set to provide $10 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Insofar as the request for jet fighters, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). said that “I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer” pursuant to what he described as Zelenskyy’s “desperate plea.”
Currently on a zoom call with President Zelenskyy. #StandWithUkraine️ pic.twitter.com/ZtGjyWITwN
— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) March 5, 2022
The GO duo may have been completely wrong in posting images from the call, but at least some of the criticism might be political in nature.
According to U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), “the Ukrainian Ambassador very intentionally asked each of us on the zoom to NOT share anything on social media during the meeting to protect the security of President Zelenskyy. Appalling and reckless ignorance by two US Senators.”
Spokespersons for Rubio and Daines implied that people are overreacting, NBC News reported.
“In separate statements, representatives for Rubio and Daines defended the senators’ decision to share the photos, calling those who make an issue out of their tweets “partisan.” There were over 160 members of Congress on a widely reported Zoom call. There was no identifying information of any kind,” said a spokesperson for Rubio. A spokesperson for Daines said his tweet, which was posted about 23 minutes after the meeting started, was “shared well into the call … before it was requested not to” and contained “no identifying information.” “We should be focusing on what’s important here and that’s supporting Ukraine,” added Daines’ spokesperson.
Sen. Rubio appeared on CNN on Sunday and addressed the controversy, saying they were not asked to refrain from sharing any photos until 30 minutes into the meeting and that he had already done so by then.
He added, “There was nothing secure about that call. The picture is a nondescript picture… There’s no risk posed. But you’re always gonna have a couple people who want their name in an article somewhere.”
As alluded to above, blue-check and non-blue-check liberals are piling on the two senators, including throwing around terms like traitor and laced with various forms of profanity, but not everyone agrees with them.
Dude, what the hell is wrong with you? You are the Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, and a Member of the Foreign Relations Committee. You were specifically asked NOT to share this briefing with Zelensky. Why would you risk his safety for a tweet? https://t.co/EpgisRP3au
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) March 5, 2022
Senators Rubio and Daines should be ashamed of themselves and their behavior during the highly classified zoom call with President Zelenskyy. The GOP is filled with people only interested in their own self-aggrandizement and power. Insane. pic.twitter.com/6y1iJf7CTr
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 5, 2022
Have you no shame, @SteveDaines? Giving aid from the U.S. Senate to a ruthless dictator to help him kill and/or kidnap an innocent man? Putin runs you and all who planned and participated in 1/6. I hope you are soon exposed for the brazen traitor you have become. #SeditionHunters https://t.co/gookdQOR5E
— Reilly Neill (@Reilly2020) March 5, 2022
Delete this. You were asked not to post it to begin with. You’re a threat to Ukrainian national security, and by extension a threat to American national security. In fact delete your entire account. And then resign.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) March 5, 2022
It’s not just that Rubio and Daines took pictures of the zoom call, which would have been bad enough…
but they announced in real time when it was happening so that satellites could potentially pick up cell phone feed!
I am GOBSMACKED that they would do that!!
— Pam Keith, Esq. (@PamKeithFL) March 5, 2022
The lack of discipline in Congress is truly astounding.
If an embattled wartime leader asks you to keep quiet about a meeting, you better keep quiet about the meeting.
I’m not saying a damn thing. Lives are at stake.
— Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) March 5, 2022
Why would @marcorubio share screenshots of today’s zoom between President Zelenskyy’s and US Senators after being explicitly told not to post anything on social out of concerns for his security? I can think of 1.5 million reasons…
— Jonathan Goldman (@akjakalope) March 5, 2022
What are you doing?!!
Announce after the call. This is total irresponsibility by somebody who should know better. UNLESS you are trying to get President Zelensky killed or captured. @SenSchumer there needs to be a reprimand of some kind for this reckless endangerment,— Jennie Lou Leeder (@JennieLouLeeder) March 5, 2022
Rubio is the GOP ranking member on the *Senate Intelligence Committee.*Daines is also a member of the Committee. They know that Zelensky is risking his life every day. But looking like ‘I’m in on the secret scoop’ was more important and added another reason to not trust the US.
— Cora 💜 Good Trouble (@corabora5) March 5, 2022
You were told not to share any images from this and you should be censured immediately #PutinsGOP https://t.co/lZoQFbGHJR
— Tara Dublin 🇺🇦🌻 (@taradublinrocks) March 5, 2022
Can anyone explain how you would begin to find his location from a Picture of the zoom call? (They also aren’t in the same location so the location tracker on the phone doesnt matter)can you use the picture posted above, because to me there are clearly no location identifiers.
— Lone_visionary (@Lone_visionary) March 5, 2022
He didn’t sharexanything from the call. He shared a acreenshot.
Zelenski is on live TV several times a day. I think there’s a disconnect between sharing info and a screenshot.— Gavin MaGrath (@FLbeachrealtor) March 6, 2022
Rubio should have respected the Zelensky’s wishes, but screenshots don’t have metadata. No geotags. Hopefully, he will be safe.
— Leah Marie (@leahmariebrown) March 5, 2022
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