U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the side lines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' summit in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, according to announcements from both the U.S. State Department and Russia’s foreign ministry.
This will mark the second face-to-face meeting between the two diplomats, taking place amid growing frustration from U.S. President Donald Trump over the prolonged war in Ukraine.
Their initial meeting occurred in February in Saudi Arabia, as part of Washington’s renewed efforts to restore dialogue with Moscow and help broker an end to the conflict.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed the planned talks, telling TASS news agency that the meeting is being arranged.
Trump, who returned to office this year vowing to quickly end the Ukraine war that began in 2022, initially adopted a softer stance toward Moscow, differing from former President Joe Biden’s firm backing of Kyiv.
However, following his recent decision to approve defensive weapons shipments to Ukraine, Trump issued rare public criticism of President Vladimir Putin, dismissing the Russian leader's peace-related comments as "meaningless."
He also indicated he might support legislation imposing harsh sanctions on Russia, including 500% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other key exports.
Responding to Trump's remarks, the Kremlin said on Wednesday it remained “calm” and would continue efforts to repair what it called a “broken” relationship with the U.S.
Meanwhile, in Rome, Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a summit of Ukraine’s international supporters, with Kyiv describing the meeting as “substantive.”
The developments come as Ukraine faces intensified aerial assaults from Russia. On Wednesday, Moscow launched a record 728 drones in a single wave—part of a series of recent escalations combining drones and ballistic missiles that are putting increasing pressure on Ukraine’s air defences.
Rubio’s trip to Kuala Lumpur marks his first visit to Asia since assuming office and includes meetings with leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and senior Malaysian officials.
The visit is aimed at reinvigorating U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific, as the Trump administration seeks to expand its strategic focus beyond the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, is leading this push while balancing his dual roles.
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Chinese and Russian foreign ministers met in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the Iranian nuclear program and regional security, emphasizing dialogue over force amid recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia have met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in what many analysts describe as a qualitatively new stage in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.
China is facing a dual weather crisis as torrential rains from Tropical Storm Danas cause deadly floods and landslides in the south, while a searing heatwave scorches the country’s northeastern and central regions, straining infrastructure and threatening lives.
Italy has called for companies with ties to Russia to be excluded from Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts, arguing that those who helped fund Moscow’s war should not profit from rebuilding the country they helped destroy.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,500-year-old city in northern Peru that likely served as a key trade hub connecting ancient coastal, Andean, and Amazonian cultures.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged stronger sanctions and defence support for Ukraine as the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia nears approval.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
As pressure mounts over military spending and shifting defence priorities, top U.S. and South Korean generals have met in Seoul to reaffirm their alliance and address growing tensions surrounding cost-sharing and regional security.
At a major Beijing forum, President Xi Jinping highlighted the need to bridge cultural divides through dialogue, promoting a global network that supports peaceful coexistence and sustainable development amid worldwide uncertainty.
As Washington prepares to impose new tariffs, Japan has voiced concern over global trade tensions, urging stronger support for multilateral economic systems during ASEAN talks in Kuala Lumpur.
European Union member states have asked the European Commission to keep secret their national strategies for phasing out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
Chinese and Russian foreign ministers met in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the Iranian nuclear program and regional security, emphasizing dialogue over force amid recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
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