Lavrov and Rubio Hold Fourth Meeting as Manila Talks Last 35 Minutes
World
Russia and the United States have continued high-level diplomatic engagement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held bilateral talks focusing on the situation surrounding Ukraine as well as other issues on the bilateral agenda.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of events hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and lasted approximately 35 minutes. According to a diplomatic source, the meeting was initiated by the U.S. side.
In addition to Sergey Lavrov, the Russian delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Director of the Foreign Policy Planning Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexey Drobinin, and the Russian President's Permanent Representative to ASEAN Yevgeny Zagaynov. The U.S. delegation included Allison Hooker, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and White House Special Envoy Sergio Gor.
Ahead of the talks, Lavrov said he intended to clarify Washington's current position on a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. According to the Russian foreign minister, Moscow believes the United States has not withdrawn the proposals previously presented in Anchorage.
Following the meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Lavrov briefed his American counterpart on what it described as the current situation along the line of combat contact in Ukraine. The ministry also said the Russian foreign minister reiterated Moscow's opposition to further arms supplies to Kyiv and criticized the policies of several European countries regarding the conflict.
The Manila talks marked the fourth in-person meeting between Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio. Their previous face-to-face meeting took place in September 2025 on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In addition to Sergey Lavrov, the Russian delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Director of the Foreign Policy Planning Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexey Drobinin, and the Russian President's Permanent Representative to ASEAN Yevgeny Zagaynov. The U.S. delegation included Allison Hooker, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and White House Special Envoy Sergio Gor.
Ahead of the talks, Lavrov said he intended to clarify Washington's current position on a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. According to the Russian foreign minister, Moscow believes the United States has not withdrawn the proposals previously presented in Anchorage.
Following the meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Lavrov briefed his American counterpart on what it described as the current situation along the line of combat contact in Ukraine. The ministry also said the Russian foreign minister reiterated Moscow's opposition to further arms supplies to Kyiv and criticized the policies of several European countries regarding the conflict.
The Manila talks marked the fourth in-person meeting between Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio. Their previous face-to-face meeting took place in September 2025 on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
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