US and Russian diplomats meet in Manila to discuss Ukraine conflict and broader ties
Moscow reaffirms commitment to political settlement based on previous proposals, while Washington notes war has hindered wider cooperation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a bilateral meeting in Manila on Thursday, utilising the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering to address the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to Russian media reports, the discussion lasted just over half an hour, occurring after the two diplomats had previously interacted briefly at a gala dinner on Tuesday and participated in an ASEAN Regional Forum meeting on Thursday morning.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness for a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict. The minister emphasised that Russia remained committed to proposals put forward by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Alaska in August 2025. Lavrov also stressed that continuing to supply weapons to Kyiv was unacceptable, condemning what he described as a destabilising policy by European countries aimed at inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia.
The US State Department provided limited details regarding the exchange, with a spokesperson confirming that the diplomats discussed the US-Russia relationship and the necessity of ending the war. Rubio told reporters earlier in the week that the conflict in Ukraine had impeded the ability of the two nations to find areas of agreement on other topics. However, he expressed openness to ending the conflict if the opportunity presented itself, noting that the United States remained willing to play a role in bringing the war to a close.
In addition to Ukraine, the dialogue touched upon the conflict in the Middle East, specifically Moscow’s condemnation of Washington’s strikes on its ally, Iran. The United States has conducted its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, directed by President Trump, aimed at degrading Iran’s maritime and air defence capabilities. These operations have coincided with heightened tensions in the Red Sea following Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported holding a good and important conversation with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zelenskyy stated on X that the discussions were aimed at reinvigorating diplomacy and reviving stalled peace talks. While US attention has shifted towards the Middle East, President Trump has previously voiced support for Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, suggesting such actions could help bring about an end to the conflict.
