US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Echoes Trump's Frustration Over Stalled Peace Talks in Lavrov Meet

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed President Donald Trump's frustration over stalled peace talks in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Rubio described the talks as "frank and important" and said the US is willing to engage in finding an outcome to the conflict. He expressed disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress and said the US hopes to see more flexibility from Russia to bring an end to the conflict. Rubio met Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed President Donald Trump's frustration over stalled peace talks in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The two officials met on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, where they discussed the ongoing conflict and the possibility of resuming dialogue.

Rubio described the talks as "frank and important," indicating that both sides were willing to engage in finding an outcome to the conflict. He expressed disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress, stating that the US hopes to see more flexibility from Russia to bring an end to the conflict. Rubio also signaled that a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, may take place during the ASEAN gathering.

The meeting between the Russian and US envoys comes at a time of heightened global polarisation, with ASEAN serving as one of the few venues where dialogue can take place. Both sides reportedly expressed interest in easing tensions and resuming dialogue in areas beyond the battlefield. Lavrov and Rubio "confirmed their mutual desire to find peaceful solutions to conflicts, restore Russian-American economic and humanitarian cooperation, and facilitate unimpeded contacts between the societies of the two countries," according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry [3].

Rubio, speaking to reporters after the 50-minute meeting, said he had delivered a clear message about the need for progress on the war in Ukraine. He said, "I had a frank and important conversation with Minister Lavrov. We need to see a roadmap moving forward about how this conflict can conclude." He also expressed that President Trump remains disappointed with what Washington, DC views as a lack of flexibility from Moscow.

The meeting follows a series of escalating attacks by Russia on Ukraine, including a recent drone and missile strike on Kyiv that killed at least two people and injured several others. The Kremlin has maintained that the peace talks have not stalled despite the US's decision to resume weapons supply to Ukraine [2].

The US and Russia have been engaged in a complex geopolitical dance, with the conflict in Ukraine serving as a central issue. The meeting in Kuala Lumpur is part of broader efforts to navigate the rocky terrain of Moscow-Washington relations, with the US seeking to bolster its influence in the Indo-Pacific region and counter China's growing influence.

References:

[1] https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/marco-rubio-to-meet-russia-s-lavrov-in-malaysia-amid-ukraine-tensions-125071000121_1.html
[2] https://thefederal.com/category/international/kremlin-says-ukraine-peace-talks-not-stalled-despite-us-arms-supply-resumes-196234
[3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/10/us-and-russia-hold-talks-on-ukraine-syria-and-iran-on-asean-sidelines