According to a spokesperson for EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio cancelled a planned meeting with Kallas on Wednesday, despite the diplomat having already flown from Brussels to Washington. The only reason given was “scheduling issues.”
No official details were provided on the background of the incident. Kallas had previously criticized US President Donald Trump’s plans to end the Ukraine war as a “dirty deal.” She argued that Ukraine should not give up its ambition to join NATO and asked why the US was already giving in to Russia’s demands before the negotiations even began. She described this as appeasement, which had never worked in the past.
Kallas had intended to use the meeting with Rubio to explore possibilities for European involvement in the Ukraine talks between the US and Russia.
According to an EU spokesperson, Kallas will still remain in Washington until Thursday, despite the cancelled meeting with Rubio. Her schedule included meetings at the State Department, with US Congress members and senators, as well as a Hudson Institute event.