U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
\| Photo Credit: AP

Russian Foreign ​Minister Sergei Lavrov and ‌U.S. Secretary of State ​Marco ⁠Rubio discussed the Ukraine conflict and the normalisation ‌of U.S.-Russia relations in a ‌meeting in ‌Manila ⁠on Thursday (July 23, 2026), the ⁠Russian Foreign Minister said.

Mr. Lavrov “reaffirmed Russia’s readiness for a ​political ‌and diplomatic settlement of the conflict,” the Ministry’s statement said, and ‌told Mr. Rubio ​that Moscow remained committed to ⁠proposals put forward by Presidents Donald ‌Trump and Vladimir Putin at their August 2025 meeting in Alaska.

The two men, ‌who met on the ​sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum, ⁠agreed to continue ⁠contacts, the Russian statement said.

Published - July 23, 2026 01:44 pm IST