Russian Official Mocks EU Foreign Minister After G7 Verbal Dispute
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and President Vladimir Putin’s representative for foreign investments, ridiculed European Union Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas following reports of a verbal altercation at the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers’ meeting.
On his social media page X, Dmitriev referenced a report by Axios detailing tensions between Kallas and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Dmitriev wrote that Kallas “has not read enough books to understand diplomacy” and added that “Marvel comics do not teach diplomacy.” He further stated that the European Union needs more educated bureaucrats and suggested that the energy crisis could provide an opportunity for further education.
Earlier, Axios cited sources reporting that during the Friday G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, a heated dispute arose between Kallas and Rubio over how to handle Russia and the United States’ role in resolving the Ukraine conflict. According to the report, Kallas criticized Washington for not increasing pressure on Moscow.
Axios added that Rubio reacted strongly to the criticism, warning that if such an approach continued, the United States might withdraw from the negotiation process.
In recent years, Russia has repeatedly stated its ability to withstand sanctions imposed by Western countries. Moscow officials have emphasized that the sanctions have not achieved their intended goals, while some Western officials have expressed differing views regarding the sanctions’ effectiveness.
