US Senator Marco Rubio will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday during the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. Lavrov described the meeting as "definitely useful" and plans to press Rubio on Donald Trump's NATO remarks and allegations that the US enables strikes on Russian territory. Rubio said an end to the war in Ukraine would benefit Russia and reiterated Washington's readiness to play a constructive role. Analysts say mediation efforts have stalled amid US focus on tensions with Iran.
Rubio To Meet Russia's Lavrov In Manila — Talks Set Amid Ukraine, NATO Tensions
FILE PHOTO - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio chat ahead of the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting. (is associated with: «Rubio to meet Lavrov in Manila on Thursday») Russian Foreign Ministry Press S/TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa
US Senator Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting in Manila.
Lavrov told Russian state media the encounter would be "definitely useful" despite strained ties between Moscow and Washington. Both ministers are attending the multi-day ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in the Philippine capital.
Rubio told reporters he held a brief conversation with Lavrov on Tuesday and confirmed they would meet on Thursday. The two last met in July 2025 in Malaysia, also on the margins of an ASEAN summit.
Topics Expected: Lavrov said he planned to press Rubio about comments made by US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Turkey, where Trump suggested an early settlement of the war in Ukraine might be possible. Lavrov also accused the United States of enabling Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory through weapons sales and the sharing of targeting data.
Rubio responded that an end to the war in Ukraine would be in Russia's interest and reiterated that the United States remains ready to play a constructive role toward that outcome.
Observers note that efforts led by President Trump to broker an end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — now in its fifth year — have largely stalled, in part because US attention is focused on rising tensions and conflict involving Iran.
"The meeting could be useful to clarify positions and explore any constructive steps," a diplomatic source said, while cautioning that deep disagreements remain.
What To Watch: The conversation in Manila is expected to be short and highly focused: officials will likely test whether any narrow, practical steps can be found amid broad strategic disagreement over Ukraine, arms transfers and regional security.
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