WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Monday that the United States would resist any overly harsh language toward Russia at this week's G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada, emphasizing the need for diplomacy over confrontation.
Speaking to reporters while traveling to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for discussions on Ukraine, Rubio said Washington is prioritizing efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
“We can’t endorse any statement that contradicts our position on fostering dialogue,” Rubio said, acknowledging that other G7 nations, including the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, may not share the U.S. approach.
He stressed that the U.S. is uniquely positioned to facilitate negotiations, adding, “Our stance isn’t about taking sides, but rather ensuring that language doesn’t become an obstacle to diplomacy.”
Rubio’s trip to Jeddah is aimed at assessing Ukraine’s willingness to compromise following President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze military aid to Kyiv. The move came after a tense White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The G7 summit, hosted by Canada in Charlevoix, Quebec, begins Wednesday amid rising tensions between Washington and Ottawa. Trump has recently imposed tariffs on Canada and dismissed it as the “51st state,” straining relations between the two allies.
Rubio said he anticipates discussing the trade dispute with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly but emphasized the importance of maintaining strong NATO and NORAD ties.
“We need to make sure that our areas of cooperation aren’t overshadowed by current disagreements,” he said.
