U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, during the ASEAN foreign ministers’ summit, as Russian attacks on Ukraine intensified.
Russia launched a significant assault on Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials reporting two deaths and multiple injuries from drone and missile strikes.
The barrage, one of the largest since the war began in 2022, involved 18 missiles and hundreds of drones targeting the Ukrainian capital.
U.S. President Donald Trump, frustrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s lack of progress toward peace, recently criticized Putin’s statements as “meaningless” and resumed defensive weapons shipments to Ukraine.
The Rubio-Lavrov meeting, lasting about 50 minutes, marked their second in-person discussion since February, following talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at mending U.S.-Russia ties.
The diplomats have also held phone calls in May and June to address the ongoing war.
Trump, who returned to office promising a swift resolution to the conflict, is now considering steep sanctions, including 500% tariffs on nations purchasing Russian energy exports.
Rubio’s trip to Malaysia, his first to Asia since taking office, underscores U.S. efforts to bolster ties with ASEAN nations.
Meanwhile, Lavrov’s upcoming visit to North Korea highlights Russia’s growing military ties with Pyongyang.
The Kremlin remains open to repairing “broken” relations with Washington, despite Trump’s recent criticism of Putin.
The talks in Kuala Lumpur reflect ongoing diplomatic efforts to navigate the Ukraine crisis while balancing broader geopolitical priorities.