U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Malaysia; proposes fresh approach to end Ukraine conflict
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | July 10, 2025 —
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the United States and Russia have exchanged new ideas aimed at reviving peace talks to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Rubio made the statement after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia.
“I think it’s a new and a different approach,” Rubio told reporters. “I wouldn’t characterize it as something that guarantees peace, but it’s a concept that I’ll take back to the president.”
The top U.S. diplomat did not elaborate on the details of the proposed ideas but emphasized the need for continued dialogue. The meeting marks a rare face-to-face discussion between senior officials of the two nations amid ongoing tensions over the Ukraine war.
The development comes as international pressure grows to find a diplomatic resolution to the prolonged conflict, which has caused massive humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.
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