Rubio Says U.S. Remains Committed to Ukraine Peace Talks After Meeting With Lavrov

By Reuters July 23, 2026 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Pool via REUTERS U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the United States remains prepared to play a "constructive role" in helping bring an end to the war in Ukraine, following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Manila. Speaking after the meeting, Rubio said President Donald Trump had made clear that the United States was prepared to help facilitate an end to a "senseless war" if the opportunity arose. He said Washington had conveyed that message to Moscow while declining to characterize Russia's position during the talks. "We had a good conversation, a frank conversation," Rubio said of his meeting with his Russian counterpart. He said he would not go into specifics about what was discussed. "The United States, the president's been clear that ... we are prepared to play a constructive role in bringing about an end to a senseless war, and we're ready to do that," Rubio said. Lavrov, for his part, "reaffirmed Russia's readiness for a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict," the Russian ministry's statement said, and told Rubio that Moscow remained committed to proposals put forward by Presidents Trump and Vladimir Putin at their August 2025 meeting in Alaska. Rubio said the conflict had exacted a heavy toll, pointing to civilian deaths and Russian strikes on Kyiv. Both Russia and Ukraine had an incentive to bring the war to an end, but the central challenge remained finding a settlement "that both sides can accept," he added. "I think it is a very bloody war," Rubio said. "I think both sides should have an incentive to bring it to an end. That's been the challenge, is an end that both sides can accept, and we've tried, and we'll continue to try to see if we can find a middle ground that brings this about," Rubio said. Read more about: Rubio , Lavrov , United States , Diplomacy , Ukraine war 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 Lavrov and Rubio Set to Meet at ASEAN Summit to Discuss Ukraine Peace Talks U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would also discuss broader bilateral issues with Russia’s foreign minister on Thursday. 2 Min read 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 Putin’s Delegation to Alaska Forced to Pay Cash for Jet Fuel, Rubio Says The Russian president typically travels with a fleet of three planes, meaning the total bill could easily have reached into the hundreds of thousands of... 1 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