U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the Russian people on Russia's National day, June 12, and expressed a desire for "constructive cooperation" to achieve peace in Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent reports.

"On behalf of the American people, I want to congratulate the Russian people on Russia Day," Rubio said in a statement posted on the State Department website.

"The United States remains committed to supporting the Russian people as they continue to build their aspirations for a better future," he added.

Since taking office in January, the new U.S. administration has sharply departed from former President Joe Biden's policies on Ukraine and Russia.

US President Donald Trump's team was trying to broker a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow while being unwilling to commit additional funds or military aid.

"We hope that peace will foster a more beneficial relationship for both sides," the secretary of state said.

Washington also signaled its intention to restore ties with Moscow, with the two sides discussing venues for possible economic cooperation.

Later, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha said he found it "unpleasant" to read the congratulations from "some countries" on Russia Day. 

"As a minister of a country that is at war, this morning it was particularly unpleasant for me to read the public congratulations from some countries to the Russian aggressor", European Pravda quoted him as saying.

Sibiha also added that he "had the moral right to say this," and also noted that "there can be no reward for the aggressor country."

Russia Day, also known as the Day of the Adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, has been celebrated annually on June 12 since 1992.

The day commemorates the declaration of state sovereignty of Russia by the Soviet Union, marking the beginning of the constitutional reform that eventually led to the collapse of the USSR. | BGNES