Moscow said it reaffirmed its readiness to resolve the Ukraine conflict while both sides agreed to continue diplomatic engagement….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial meetings in Manila on Thursday, with Moscow saying it reiterated its readiness to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and uphold understandings reached during talks in Anchorage.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov briefed Rubio on the current situation along the combat line in Ukraine and stressed the importance of halting further arms supplies to Kyiv. The ministry said the discussion also covered efforts to improve the functioning of Russian and US diplomatic missions, as well as regional and international issues, including developments in West Asia.
The two ministers agreed to maintain contacts between their foreign ministries, including within the framework of international organisations, Russian state news agency Tass reported.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and other officials were also present during the meeting.
The talks came weeks after Lavrov publicly questioned Washington’s position on the Anchorage discussions, following Rubio’s remarks that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had not reached any final agreement on Ukraine during their meeting.
Speaking on June 26, Lavrov said the Russian side had accepted proposals presented by the United States during the Anchorage talks.
“Of course, this entire situation needs to be clarified. But the fact remains: US proposals were discussed in Alaska, and they were accepted by the Russian side.”
Lavrov referred to the meeting in Anchorage, attended by Putin, Trump, Rubio and US envoy Steve Witkoff, saying Putin had reviewed the American proposals point by point.
“Already in Anchorage, when the two Presidents ‘sat down for talks’ –Marco Rubio and I were also present — President Vladimir Putin, looking at Steve Witkoff, who was also in the room, began listing the US proposals point by point. After each point, in the presence of President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vladimir Putin asked Steve Witkoff whether he had accurately captured the ideas that the latter had brought to Moscow ahead of Anchorage.”
“Steve Witkoff answered each time in the affirmative. Therefore, when my colleague Marco Rubio says that there were only proposals in Alaska and no agreement, this raises a question for me as to what we mean by an agreement. If one Side — in this case, the US — puts forward its settlement proposals, its ideas on how to approach this crisis, and the other Side expresses consent to these proposals, then saying that there was no agreement does not sound particularly elegant,” he added.
Lavrov also referred to Rubio’s recent comments about the US role in ending the war, saying the Secretary of State had indicated Washington was prepared to play a constructive part if the opportunity arose.
According to Lavrov, Rubio had said that bringing the parties together and ending the conflict was what Trump had been trying to achieve for the past year and a half.
The Russian Foreign Minister also pointed to Rubio’s earlier congressional testimony, where he said the United States could not act as a mediator because it supports Ukraine.
“Now, when Washington expresses interest in playing a constructive role and bringing the parties together, this already sounds like a bid for mediation. Of course, this entire situation needs to be clarified. But the fact remains: US proposals were discussed in Alaska, and they were accepted by the Russian side,” Lavrov said.
