Diplomatic Rift or a New Course: Rubio and Lavrov Discuss the Future of the War in Ukraine in Manila

The meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila has raised new questions regarding Washington's future role in the Ukrainian conflict. There is an observed trend of the Donald Trump administration distancing itself from direct military involvement, instead directing attention toward diplomatic paths to end the war.

During the talks, the Russian side expressed categorical protest against the continued supply of weapons to Kyiv. Minister Lavrov warned the US Secretary of State that such actions are "unacceptable" and accused European countries of attempts to destabilize and inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia. Lavrov emphasized that Moscow is ready to resolve the conflict through politics and diplomacy, confirming its readiness to adhere to the agreements reached between the two sides in Anchorage last September.

On the other hand, Marco Rubio described the conversation as "good and sincere." Speaking to Reuters reporters, he stated that the US is ready to take on a "constructive role" in ending what he called a "senseless war."

The diplomats discussed not only the Ukrainian issue but also regional security in the Persian Gulf, as well as the normalization of the work of diplomatic missions between the two superpowers. The meeting took place during a period of stagnation in mediation efforts, since the international community's focus shifted toward the crisis in the Middle East.