U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, marking high-level direct talks between Washington and Moscow to discuss the war in Ukraine and broader bilateral relations.
During the 37-minute meeting, Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s commitment to peace proposals floated during previous talks in Alaska, while warning Rubio that continued Western arms deliveries to Kyiv are “unacceptable” and risk further escalation.
Rubio stated that the U.S. remains open to playing a constructive role in brokering an end to the conflict as diplomatic efforts look to regain momentum.
The bilateral meeting took place as top foreign ministers from Asia, Europe, and North America gathered in the Philippine capital for Southeast Asia’s premier security summit hosted by the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Beyond Ukraine, discussions at the forum were dominated by the expanding Middle East conflict, severe energy supply disruptions caused by blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, and persistent maritime tensions in the South China Sea.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying warned attendees that the global economy has entered a “new period of turbulence,” urging regional leaders to strengthen supply chain resilience and maintain regional stability.
