Russia says Lavrov and Rubio held 'constructive' pre-summit call

Sergei Lavrov with Marco Rubio in Malaysia, 11 July, 2025
Reuters

Russia said that its Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had a “constructive” conversation as they began preparations for an upcoming summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

According to both sides, the two leaders agreed during a phone call last Thursday to hold their second meeting of the year in Budapest, Hungary, with Lavrov and Rubio tasked with laying the groundwork for the talks.

“The discussion was constructive and focused on possible concrete measures to implement the understandings reached during the 16 October telephone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement.

No further details of the exchange were provided.

Moscow has said it hopes the summit will centre on a potential peace agreement for Ukraine and on improving relations between Russia and the United States.

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