Lavrov and Rubio Set to Meet at ASEAN Summit to Discuss Ukraine Peace Talks

July 22, 2026 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Russian Foreign Ministry Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to meet Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in the Philippines to discuss Ukraine peace negotiations and other bilateral issues. “The meeting has already been arranged. We briefly saw Marco Rubio at a reception yesterday and confirmed that it will take place tomorrow in the first half of the day,” Lavrov told reporters following a Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting. In separate remarks to reporters in Manila, Rubio confirmed the upcoming sit-down. He said his primary focus would be on potential paths to ending the war in Ukraine. “Obviously, the war in Ukraine, I think, has, in many ways, impeded the ability of Russia and the United States to find areas of agreement on other topics,” Rubio said. “That doesn’t mean we won’t seek to find other areas of potential cooperation,” the secretary of state said, adding that he planned to discuss “other stuff” with Lavrov on Thursday. He hinted that nuclear arms control could be among the topics they discuss. Lavrov said he plans to press Rubio about recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed earlier this month that a peace agreement in Ukraine was “closer than people realize.” The Russian foreign minister added that Moscow continues to operate under the assumption that U.S. officials “have not yet backtracked on their own proposals” made during last year’s presidential summit in Alaska. Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has tried to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. But U.S.-brokered talks to end the war in Ukraine have stalled since Trump ordered attacks on Iran in late February. Bloomberg reported Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin has hardened his stance on peace negotiations with Ukraine amid continuing long-range Ukrainian attacks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the report as “speculation.” Read more about: Lavrov , Rubio , United States , Diplomacy Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Rubio Urges Russia's Lavrov to Stop 'Killing' in Ukraine Rubio "reiterated ... the need for Moscow to take meaningful steps toward a durable resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war," the State Department said. 3 Min read Rubio Warns U.S. Will End Mediation Unless It Sees ‘Concrete Proposals’ From Russia and Ukraine "If there is not progress, we will step back as mediators in this process," the State Department spokeswoman said. 1 Min read Russia and U.S. Discussing Restarting Nord Stream Gas Deliveries to Europe – Lavrov "Now, of course, there are disagreements. But is it only in the interests of Russia and the United States to restore normal energy supply to Europe?" Lavrov... 2 Min read Russia, U.S. Agree to Talk Security Demands Next Week Russia's foreign minister spoke with his U.S. counterpart as tensions flare over Ukraine.