Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to meet United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila, Philippines, on Thursday as both countries continue diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a path toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Lavrov confirmed the meeting during a press conference on Wednesday while attending events linked to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He revealed that the meeting had already been agreed upon and followed a brief interaction between the two officials at a reception on Tuesday.
The Russian foreign minister expressed optimism about the discussions, describing the meeting as potentially useful. He said he intends to ask Rubio about recent remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the possibility of achieving a swift resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to Lavrov, Russia believes the United States has not withdrawn earlier peace proposals discussed during talks between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, last year. He suggested those proposals could still provide a foundation for renewed negotiations.
The meeting comes after previous diplomatic contacts between both nations, including a telephone conversation between Lavrov and Rubio in May. Earlier this year, Russia and Ukraine held three rounds of peace negotiations under US mediation in an effort to reach a settlement. However, the talks were later suspended, with both Moscow and Kyiv attributing the pause to shifting international priorities, including tensions involving Iran.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Rubio said he hopes there is an opportunity for the United States to play a constructive role in helping bring the Ukraine conflict to an end. He also emphasized that maintaining dialogue between Washington and Moscow remains essential despite significant disagreements.
Rubio noted that the United States and Russia, as the world’s two largest nuclear powers, have a responsibility to continue diplomatic engagement. According to him, refusing to communicate would be both irresponsible and dangerous.
Beyond Ukraine, the discussions are also expected to cover broader international security issues, including rising tensions in the Middle East.
Addressing the ongoing situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, Lavrov said he believes prolonged hostilities are not in the interests of either the United States or Iran, warning that continued instability could have serious consequences for the global economy.
He dismissed reports suggesting Russia and China are directly supplying Iran with weapons, describing such claims as unfounded. Lavrov also expressed concern that the ongoing conflict could encourage political groups within Iran to push for a military dimension to the country’s nuclear programme, calling it an unfortunate consequence of escalating regional tensions.
The Russian foreign minister further commented on reports that the United States had approved support for a civilian nuclear programme in Saudi Arabia. He argued that countries party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons have the right to pursue uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes under international law.
The upcoming meeting between Lavrov and Rubio is expected to be closely watched by the international community, as both nations explore possibilities for restarting diplomatic efforts on Ukraine while addressing other pressing global security challenges.
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