GOP senators accused of jeopardizing Zelensky’s safety with tweets about Zoom call

Democratic lawmaker says Ukrainian envoy asked not to share anything on social media, but Marco Rubio and Steve Daines defend posts, say there was ‘no identifying information’

By ToI Staff 7 March 2022, 5:39 pm

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Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), February 25, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

A pair of Republican senators shared photos of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on a Zoom call with US Congress members, prompting accusations they were jeopardizing the Ukrainian leader’s safety.

During Saturday’s video conference, senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Steve Daines of Montana tweeted photos of Zelensky on their screens, saying they were currently on the call with him.

The tweets were criticized by Democratic representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who said the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States “very intentionally” asked those on the call not to share anything on social media to ensure Zelensky’s safety.

“Appalling and reckless ignorance by two US Senators,” Philipps said.

Democratic Representative Jason Crow of Colorado also criticized Rubio and Daines, tweeting, “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,” Crow said.

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. https://t.co/geolhKxbLp

— Rep. Dean Phillips ???????? (@RepDeanPhillips) March 5, 2022

Several Democratic lawmakers shared photos from the call when the meeting was over.

The criticism follows a report that the Ukrainian leader had survived at least three assassination attempt.

Rubio and Daines defended sharing the photos during the Zoom meeting, with spokespeople for both of the senators saying there was “no identifying information.”

Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing, March 3, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Tom Williams, Pool via AP)

In an appearance Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Rubio said Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova made the request 30 minutes into the call, after he had already tweeted the photo.

“I think she’s under the impression that no one knew that call was happening. That call had been widely reported,” he said. “There was nothing secure about the call and the picture is just a nondescript picture that looks like every other one… There was no risk posed.”

Some 300 members of Congress and their staffs took part in the hourlong Zoom call with Zelensky, during which he called for the US to supply Ukraine with fighter jets to fight off Russia’s intensifying invasion.

Agencies contributed to this report.