Sharp tensions between the USA and Brussels. Marco Rubio and Kaja Kallas quarreled over Russia

At the meeting of G7 ministers on Friday in France between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the head of EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas, there was a tension over the topic of Russia and Ukraine – Axios reported overnight, citing three sources present at the conversation.

During a conversation about Ukraine, Kallas asked Rubio when the US would take a more decisive stance towards Russia. She pointed out that Rubio had said a year earlier that the US would lose patience and take further action if Russians obstruct US efforts to end the war.

– A year has passed and Russia has not moved. When will your patience run out? – Kallas Rubio asked.

According to sources who were present at the meeting, Rubio was clearly upset.

He replied in a raised voice: – We are doing everything we can to end the war. If you think you can do it better, go ahead. We will step aside.

The head of American diplomacy added that the US is trying to talk to two sides, but helps only one side, Ukraine, in the field of, for example, weapons and intelligence information.

After the exchange, several European ministers who witnessed the altercation intervened, saying they wanted the U.S. to continue diplomatic activities regarding Russia and Ukraine, one of the sources said.

At the end of the meeting, Rubio and Kallas had a short conversation on the sidelines in an attempt to calm the situation.

– It was a sincere exchange of words. That's what diplomacy is for, a State Department representative told Axios.

From Dallas Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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