A planned meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and representatives from several European Union nations regarding Ukraine was abruptly canceled on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, according to reports. The meeting, intended to include officials from Germany, Finland, Poland, and the European Commission, will not take place, sources within the U.S. Government confirmed. The cancellation was described as “insane” by European sources.
Rubio is scheduled to address the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, where a major foreign policy speech was anticipated. A discussion panel focused on the war in Ukraine is also planned for the afternoon, with participants including German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha.
“Medals are crucial for Ukraine and for you, but the most important thing is who you are,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a ceremony awarding the Ukrainian Order of Liberty on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. He stated he has great respect for all Olympians who have supported Heraskewytsch and his position. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) continues to reject the athlete’s appeal against his exclusion.
According to Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod, two people were killed and five injured in a Ukrainian rocket attack on the Russian city of Belgorod. Gladkov explained in a video posted to Telegram that the men were part of teams repairing damaged heating and power networks in the city.
The abrupt cancellation of a key diplomatic meeting underscores the complexities surrounding international efforts to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The incident occurred as global leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference to discuss pressing security concerns.
The meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and representatives from Germany, Finland, Poland, and the European Commission was intended to focus on the situation in Ukraine. However, U.S. Government sources confirmed the meeting would not proceed, prompting a strong reaction from European officials who reportedly described the cancellation as “insane.”
Rubio is slated to deliver a major foreign policy address at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Later in the day, he is expected to participate in a panel discussion concerning the war in Ukraine, alongside German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha.
Elsewhere at the conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of character over accolades, stating, “Medals are important for Ukraine and for you, but the most important thing is who you are.” Zelenskyy expressed his respect for Olympians who have supported Heraskewytsch, despite the Court of Arbitration for Sport continuing to deny the athlete’s appeal regarding his exclusion from competition.
In a separate development, a Ukrainian rocket attack on Belgorod, Russia, resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to five others, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The victims were reportedly working to restore damaged infrastructure in the city.
