"Rubio is obviously very annoyed"! US media reports: At the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the U.S. Secretary of State and the EU "Foreign Minister" had a heated confrontation.

Ask AI · How the Russia-Ukraine conflict is shaking the trust of allies behind a clash between the U.S. and Europe’s foreign ministers at the G7

【Global Times report, reporter Suo Yanqi】According to a report by the U.S. Axios News website citing three sources who attended the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas held a fierce exchange on the Russia-Ukraine conflict during the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers meeting held locally on the 27th. The report said the tense exchange reflects the mutual distrust that the United States currently has with many of its European allies because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

On March 27 local time, Rubio attended the G7 foreign ministers meeting in France. Photo source: overseas media

The report said that, according to the sources, during a discussion on Ukraine, Kallas—the “hawkish” figure toward Russia—criticized the United States for not increasing pressure on Moscow. Kallas said that Rubio, a year earlier, had said at the same meeting that if Russia obstructed the U.S.’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the U.S. would lose patience and take further measures against Russia. Kallas asked, “A year has passed, and there has been no action on Russia’s part. When will you lose patience?”

Axios News, citing the sources’ account, described that in response to Kallas’s remarks, Rubio was “obviously very angry.” He sharply countered, raising his voice, saying that the United States is doing everything it can to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict: “If you think you can do it better, then go ahead. We’ll step aside.”

On March 26 local time, Kallas attended the G7 foreign ministers meeting in France. Photo source: overseas media

One source said that after the fierce exchange, several European officials present interjected to indicate that they still hope the United States will continue to push forward diplomatic dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. Two sources said that at the end of the meeting, Rubio and Kallas held a brief private conversation to try to ease the atmosphere.

Regarding the above reports, Axios News said that Kallas’s spokesperson declined to comment. On the other hand, a U.S. Department of State official said the relevant exchange was “an honest exchange of views, which is precisely what diplomacy is for.” In addition, during a brief exchange with reporters after the meeting, Rubio himself denied that there was any tense exchange or any criticism. He said these meetings typically involve topics such as “thanking the U.S. for mediation,” and that “no one was shouting in the meeting, no one was raising their voice, and no one was saying anything negative.”

The G7 foreign ministers meeting was held in France from the 26th to the 27th to discuss issues such as Iran’s situation, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and global governance. It is worth noting that, according to reports from overseas media, Rubio was absent from the first day of meetings on the 26th. In this regard, a reporter had asked Kallas what message the U.S. side’s move was sending, and she responded at the time that, “I can’t speak for him (explain) why he can’t attend today,” adding that Europe would have more room to discuss with other allies.