The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, criticized the United States for not increasing the pressure on Russia during the Friday meeting of the ministers of the G7 countries in France during the discussion of the war in Ukraine. She provoked an irritated reaction from the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present, the Axios news website reported, citing unnamed sources.
- At the G7 meeting, Kaja Kallas accused the US of insufficient pressure on Russia.
- Kallas reminded Marco Rubio of his year-old promise of tougher measures against Moscow.
- Kallas directly asked Rubio when the United States will run out of patience.
- Marco Rubio reacted angrily, defending the US effort and raising his voice in the process.
- Donald Trump described Volodymyr Zelensky as an obstacle to the agreement, Putin as ready to negotiate.
Former Estonian Prime Minister Kallas, who according to Axios has an uncompromising stance on Russia, reportedly reminded Rubio that at the same meeting a year ago, he declared that if Russia obstructed US efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Washington would lose patience and take further action against Moscow.
Tension at the G7 negotiations
“It’s been a year and Russia hasn’t budged. When will you run out of patience?” the head of EU diplomacy asked the American minister at the meeting, which was also attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
According to the cited officials, Rubio was visibly irritated by Kallasova’s statements. “We’re doing what we can to end the war. If you think you can do better, go for it. We’re going to pull out,” Rubio snapped, raising his voice, according to Axios. He reportedly stated that the US is trying to communicate with both sides of the conflict, but is helping only one side, Ukraine, with weapons, intelligence and other support.
A conciliatory gesture at the end
After this exchange of views, several European ministers joined the debate and expressed their wish for the US to continue its diplomatic efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian war, said one of the sources present at the negotiations.
At the end of the meeting, Rubio and Kallas briefly separated from the other ministers to try to calm the situation, according to two unnamed officials. “It was a frank exchange of views. That’s what diplomacy is for,” said a source from the US State Department.
Kallas’s spokesperson refused to comment on the portal’s claims, but Rubio denied in an interview with journalists that there was any tension or criticism at the meeting. “These meetings are often about thanking America for the role that we’ve played … and about appreciating the mediating role that we’re trying to play in this Russia-Ukraine war. No one is yelling or raising their voice or saying anything negative,” he said.
In early March, US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky an obstacle to concluding an agreement with Russia. On the contrary, according to Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
