 "Rubio holds 'frank' talks with Lavrov, says he's 'disappointed' over lack of progress on Ukraine")
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said he conveyed his “disappointment and frustration” to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the lack of progress in ending the war in Ukraine, describing their exchange as “a frank and important conversation.”
“I echoed what the president (Donald Trump) said, both a disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress,” The Guardian quoted Rubio, who met Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asean gathering in Malaysia, as saying in a 50-minute meeting .
Meanwhile, Moscow also described the meeting as a “substantive and frank exchange of views."”
According to AFP, Rubio said that Lavrov shared “a new idea” on Ukraine, without offering any detail on what it was.
“It’s not a new approach. It’s a new idea or a new concept that I’ll take back to the president to discuss,” AFP quoted Rubio as reporters, cautioning it was not something that “automatically leads to peace, but it could potentially open the door to a path.”
Rubio’s second in-person meeting came amid intensified Russian attacks in Ukraine. The two had previously met in February and spoken by phone in May and June.
Trump has grown increasingly - and publicly - frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the war drags on.
Meanwhile, Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv early Thursday, forcing thousands into shelters as Ukraine’s air defences struggle under intensifying attacks.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched 18 missiles and around 400 drones, following a record 728-drone barrage the night before.
President Trump, who returned to power this year vowing to quickly end the war, has taken a tougher tone recently.
A day after resuming US arms deliveries to Ukraine, he dismissed Putin’s peace signals as “meaningless.”
Trump is also weighing support for a Senate bill proposing severe sanctions on Russia, including 500% tariffs on countries importing Russian energy and raw materials.
Rubio confirmed the administration’s engagement with the Senate on the bill.
Despite Trump’s criticism, the Kremlin said on Wednesday it remains committed to repairing US-Russia relations.
With inputs from agencies
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