During a G7 foreign ministers meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas directly challenged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asking when the U.S. would “get tough” on Russia. This sharp exchange, witnessed by several allied ministers, highlighted growing transatlantic distrust over Ukraine. Kallas, a Russia hawk, noted Rubio had warned a year earlier that U.S. patience would wear thin if Russia obstructed peace efforts, yet “Russia hasn’t moved.” Rubio visibly annoyed, retorted that the U.S. was doing its best to end the war and suggested Kallas could try doing better herself, emphasizing the U.S. was only supporting one side—Ukraine. European ministers then interjected, urging continued U.S. diplomacy. The two later had a private cooling-down talk. A State Department official called it a “frank exchange of views,” but Rubio later publicly denied any tension, claiming the meeting was filled with appreciation for U.S. leadership. The incident reflects deep European anxiety about U.S.-led peace efforts, exacerbated by Washington’s recent oil waivers for Russia and its perceived shift in focus toward Iran. A Ukrainian delegation recently confirmed no significant progress in talks, noting U.S. attention is now centered on Iran.
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