Axios: Rubio’s heated exchange on Russia

Posted on March 28, 2026 by michelleclarke2015
Rubio’s heated exchange on Russia
 
Secretary of State Marco Rubio (far right) joins a family photo at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting outside Paris yesterday. Photo: Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio when the U.S. would get tough on Russia during a G7 ministers’ meeting in France yesterday, sparking a sharp retort, Axios’ Barak Ravid reports from three sources who attended the meeting.

Why it matters: The tense exchange, which took place in front of allied foreign ministers, was symptomatic of the mutual distrust between the U.S. and many of its European allies over the war in Ukraine. 

Behind the scenes: During a discussion of Ukraine, Kallas — a Russia hawk and former prime minister of Estonia — criticized the U.S. for not increasing pressure on Moscow, according to the sources.

She noted that Rubio had said at the same forum a year earlier that if Russia hampered U.S. efforts to end the war, the U.S. would run out of patience and take more steps against the Kremlin.

“A year has passed and Russia hasn’t moved,” Kallas told Rubio, according to the sources. “When is your patience going to run out?”Rubio was visibly annoyed. “We are doing the best we can to end the war. If you think you can do it better, go ahead. We will step aside,” he fired back, raising his voice.

Rubio said the U.S. was trying to talk to both sides, but was only helping one side, Ukraine, with weapons, intelligence and other support.

A State Department official told Axios: “It was a frank exchange of views. This is what diplomacy is for.”Share this story.
    
 
 
A MESSAGE FROM GOLDMAN SACHS
Analysis on the latest moves in the oil market
 
 
Geopolitical volatility has driven significant price swings in the global oil market.Goldman Sachs analysts break down the themes they are watching in the commodities and energy markets in the latest episodes of Exchanges and The Markets podcasts.
Unknown's avatar

About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a comment