US and Russian foreign ministers discuss diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict as Washington reiterates support for peace negotiations.
MANILA: United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held high-level talks on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Manila on Thursday, focusing on the ongoing war in Ukraine and prospects for a diplomatic resolution.
According to Russian media, the meeting between the two top diplomats lasted just over 30 minutes and came amid renewed international efforts to revive stalled peace negotiations.
The discussions coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announcing that he had spoken with senior US envoys in an attempt to restart diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the years-long conflict.
In a statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to pursue a political and diplomatic settlement of the war. He also emphasized that Russia remained committed to proposals discussed by Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Alaska in August 2025.
The ministry added that Lavrov told Rubio continued military assistance to Ukraine was “unacceptable,” arguing that ongoing arms supplies to Kyiv were prolonging the conflict. He also criticized European nations, accusing them of pursuing policies intended to inflict what he described as a “strategic defeat” on Russia.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rubio said the United States remained willing to play a constructive role in supporting efforts to end the war.
He noted that President Trump had made it clear Washington was prepared to help facilitate a peaceful resolution whenever a genuine opportunity emerged, describing the conflict as a “senseless war.”
Rubio added that the United States had conveyed this message directly to the Russian delegation but declined to disclose specific details of Moscow’s position following the discussions.
The meeting highlights continued diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow despite ongoing tensions, as international stakeholders seek ways to advance negotiations and reduce hostilities in the Ukraine conflict.
