Secretary of State Marco Rubio is demanding a full retraction from Politico after the outlet published a bombshell report alleging the White House is considering lifting sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Rubio says the claim is total fiction—and he’s not mincing words.

The headline making waves on Wednesday claimed there’s an internal White House debate over removing key energy sanctions on Russia as part of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Citing unnamed sources, Politico claimed special envoy Steve Witkoff—Trump’s point man in Moscow—was pushing for a rollback of sanctions and even directed staff to prepare a list of restricted assets.

The article framed this as part of an emerging deal with Russia—one that would represent a sharp reversal of Trump-era policy and flood Europe with Russian natural gas.

But Rubio fired back in a late-night post, calling the article “unequivocally false.”

“There is no debate, no plan, and no conversation with me or the president about lifting sanctions on Russia’s pipelines,” Rubio stated, slamming the piece as fake news and demanding Politico issue a retraction. “It’s not happening.”

Rubio went further, directly rebutting the central claims of the article. “I’ve had zero discussions with Witkoff about any such thing. If he’s exploring ideas internally, that’s not policy—and it’s certainly not a White House debate,” he said.

The story hinges heavily on the use of the word “debate,” but Rubio made it clear: there is no internal fight. Whatever Steve Witkoff may be entertaining as part of his diplomatic outreach, Rubio says it has no traction inside the administration.

And the idea that Donald Trump would back such a plan? Rubio flatly rejects it.

Trump originally imposed the sanctions on Nord Stream 2 during his first term, warning that it would increase Europe’s dependence on Russian energy and strengthen Vladimir Putin’s leverage. Joe Biden later lifted those sanctions—then reinstated them after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Rubio argues Trump has no intention of undoing his own foreign policy wins.

“It would be idiotic to even consider putting Putin’s pipeline back in business,” one GOP Hill staffer told RedState. “It runs counter to everything Trump has said about U.S. energy dominance and helping Europe break free from Russian blackmail.”

According to Politico, Witkoff—who has claimed to have a personal rapport with Putin—has been asking his team to inventory all the energy sanctions currently in place. That, the article claimed, is part of groundwork for a possible agreement.

But critics say that’s a far cry from serious consideration at the top levels of the White House.

“Even if Witkoff’s exploring options, that doesn’t mean there’s a sanctioned discussion happening across the administration,” Rubio said. “And it sure doesn’t mean we’re entertaining a reversal of America First energy policy.”

The idea of softening U.S. pressure on Russian oil and gas exports has alarmed many conservatives, especially as Trump continues to push for expanded American energy production and trade leverage over Europe.

“If we’re rebuilding American energy and cutting China and Russia out of strategic markets, why on earth would we hand Putin a gift like this?” one senior adviser familiar with the negotiations said.

Rubio echoed that point, noting any resolution to the war in Ukraine must benefit American national interests first.

“We’re not here to enrich the Kremlin,” Rubio said. “Whatever happens in Eastern Europe, we’re not giving Russia a second chance to dominate Europe’s energy grid. That’s Biden’s mistake. We’re not repeating it.”

Whether Politico walks back its framing remains to be seen. But Rubio is making it clear: Trump’s administration isn’t lifting sanctions on Russian pipelines—and any report suggesting otherwise is “fake news.”