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Top diplomats from the United States and Russia held fresh talks on the Ukraine war during a meeting in Manila on Thursday, on the sidelines of a summit of Southeast Asian leaders.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met without making public statements, as both sides signaled cautious openness to dialogue despite deep divisions.
According to the US State Department, the discussions focused on bilateral relations and the urgent need to end the Russia-Ukraine war, though no further details were disclosed. The meeting also touched on the Middle East conflict, where Moscow has criticized Washington’s recent strikes on Iran.
Rubio acknowledged that the war in Ukraine continues to strain ties between Washington and Moscow, limiting cooperation on other global issues. However, he stressed that the US remains willing to explore areas of mutual interest while pushing for an end to the conflict.
Lavrov, meanwhile, described the talks as constructive, saying such engagements are valuable for “asking questions and getting answers.”
Efforts to revive peace negotiations remain stalled, with Russia insisting that Ukraine concede territory, while Kyiv rejects such demands.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he held a “good and important” conversation with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aimed at reinvigorating diplomatic efforts.
The Manila meeting follows earlier brief interactions between Rubio and Lavrov at ASEAN events this week, including a gala dinner and a session of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
As diplomacy struggles to gain momentum, fighting continues to escalate. Ukraine has intensified long-range drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, while Moscow has launched large-scale missile and drone attacks, including a deadly strike on Kyiv in late June that killed at least 30 people.
The renewed engagement in Manila highlights ongoing international efforts to find a path toward ending the prolonged and devastating conflict.
