The EU foreign minister made a tough demand on Russia, which even Rubio found so exasperating that he decided not to meet her!
Recently, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kallas, stated in Brussels: any peace proposal regarding the Ukraine war must be conditional on Russia making concessions, with Russia needing to significantly reduce its military size and defense budget. She even explicitly stated, "Without the demobilization of Russian forces, there can be no real peace."
At a time when the White House is eager to facilitate a deal between Ukraine and Russia, Kallas' position seems somewhat ridiculous. No wonder even Rubio was too annoyed to respond, directly canceling his meeting with her.
Rubio has always had clear positions on European and Russian affairs. More importantly, he belongs to the "pro-Europe" faction in Washington—supporting NATO's eastward expansion and advocating for stronger aid to Ukraine.
Rubio had planned to meet with Kallas during his visit to Brussels in mid-November, but after her remarks, he canceled the bilateral meeting directly. A source close to Rubio said, "He believes this unrealistic 'precondition' will only make negotiations more distant, and completely ignores the reality on the battlefield."
Why is Rubio so dissatisfied? The key lies in the huge gap between Kallas' specific proposals and the current situation. Many people within the EU now believe Kallas lacks common sense, yet she holds one of the core positions in Brussels. What is the future of Brussels then?
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849904350918922/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.