US’s Rubio, Russia’s Lavrov Hold New Talks on Ukraine at ASEAN Summit in Malaysia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio held fresh talks on Ukraine during the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

The meeting followed a 50-minute discussion between the two diplomats the previous day. While no detailed statements were released following Friday’s exchange, Rubio told reporters after Thursday’s meeting that they had explored a potential “new and different approach” to peace efforts regarding Ukraine.

“I wouldn’t characterise it as something that guarantees peace,” Rubio said, “but it’s a concept that I’ll take back to the president.”

Lavrov confirmed that the discussions included Ukraine, noting that Russia’s position remained consistent with what President Vladimir Putin outlined in his July 3 conversation with President Donald Trump.

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the discussion as a “substantive and frank exchange” covering Ukraine, Iran, Syria, and broader global matters.

The dialogue marked a rare instance of direct engagement between Moscow and Washington at a time when relations remain tense. However, Russian officials downplayed any suggestion of declining ties, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stating that the current US administration’s approach may be inconsistent, but Moscow does not view this as a crisis in relations.

Ryabkov added that another round of US-Russia talks on unresolved bilateral matters could take place before the end of the summer.

Both sides signaled openness to continued dialogue while emphasizing caution.

“We are talking, and that is a start,” Rubio said. “But much depends on what comes next.”

During his first official visit to Asia as Secretary of State, Rubio is also scheduled to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kuala Lumpur, marking their first in-person meeting. The discussions come as the United States seeks to reaffirm its presence in the Asia Pacific region while managing trade tensions with China.

Rubio is attending the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, which brings together leaders from Japan, China, Russia, Australia, India, and the European Union, amid a series of diplomatic engagements in the region.

With input from Al Jazeera