US, Russian Top Diplomats Hold Ukraine War Talks in Manila

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on Thursday in Manila to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

The meeting, which lasted just over 30 minutes, focused on efforts to revive diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the prolonged conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

According to Russia's Foreign Ministry, Lavrov reiterated Moscow's readiness to pursue a political and diplomatic solution to the war. He also reaffirmed Russia's commitment to proposals previously discussed by Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin during their 2025 meeting in Alaska.

Lavrov stressed that continued Western military support for Ukraine remains unacceptable to Russia and accused European nations of prolonging the conflict by seeking what he described as Russia's "strategic defeat."

The US State Department provided limited details, confirming only that Rubio and Lavrov discussed bilateral relations and the importance of ending the war in Ukraine. The two diplomats also exchanged views on developments in the Middle East.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Rubio said Washington remains willing to support any credible diplomatic initiative that could help bring the conflict to an end, while acknowledging that the war has complicated broader US-Russia relations.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed he had held discussions with senior US envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, on ways to revive stalled peace negotiations.

Despite renewed diplomatic contacts, peace talks remain at an impasse, with Russia insisting Ukraine cede occupied territories, while Kyiv continues to reject those demands and intensify long-range drone attacks on Russian military and energy infrastructure.

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