The top American and Russian diplomats met for the first time since February on Thursday. Secretary of State Rubio said he and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed a “new and a different approach” toward peace.
Rubio and Lavrov held talks on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Malaysia. “I think it’s a new and a different approach. I wouldn’t characterize it as something that guarantees a peace, but it’s a concept that, you know, that I’ll take back to the president,” Rubio said.
“We need to see a roadmap moving forward about how this conflict can conclude. And then we shared some ideas about what that might look like,” he added. “We’re going to continue to stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference.” The talks lasted about 50 minutes.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement following the talks, saying the diplomats engaged in a “substantive and frank exchange of views.”
“The importance of further work to normalize the operation of both countries’ diplomatic missions was emphasized,” the statement reads. “The Russian and US foreign policy agencies will continue constructive and mutually respectful dialogue on a growing range of issues of mutual interest.”
The meeting between Rubio and Lavrov came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asserted on Wednesday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict had been “exhausted.”
In recent days, President Donald Trump has appeared increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing disappointment with the Kremlin leader after the two heads of state spoke by phone last week.
However, the Russian deputy foreign minister said that he expects another round of talks with the US to be scheduled soon. “I think we will soon set a timeframe for the third round of consultations where these solely bilateral issues, which have recently been called irritants, will be addressed,” Sergey Ryabkov explained.
