Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he is ready to meet again in person with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In doing so, he indicates that Moscow is interested in keeping diplomatic channels open, even as the country refuses to change its terms for ending the war in Ukraine.
The offer was first delivered to the state news agency RIA Novosti reported by Reuters on Sunday. “Foreign Affairs Marco Rubio and I understand the need for regular communication,” Lavrov said. “It is important for discussing the Ukrainian issue and promoting the bilateral agenda. That is why we communicate by telephone and are ready to hold face-to-face meetings if necessary.”
The diplomatic move comes days after a major Russian weapons test that further heightened tensions, when President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had conducted a “successful test of a nuclear-powered underwater torpedo.” Two days later, on October 31, the United States canceled a planned summit in Budapest between President Donald Trump and President Putin, following Russia’s firm stance on tough demands on Ukraine.
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U.S. President Donald Trump, right, greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, ahead of his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, during the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 7, 2017. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Kremlin pool photo via AP)
Recent diplomatic process
Since the beginning of this year, both parties have held several rounds of talks. On February 18, Rubio and Lavrov led delegations in Riyadh that agreed to restore normal operations of diplomatic missions and set up technical teams. A follow-up meeting on February 27 in Istanbul focused on access to embassies, personnel, banking and restoring direct air links.
The pair met again on July 10 in Kuala Lumpur, where Rubio delivered what he called a “candid” message, conveying Trump’s frustration with Russia’s lack of flexibility. On September 24, at the UN General Assembly in New York, Rubio again urged Moscow to take “meaningful steps toward a lasting solution,” according to a statement from the State Department.
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In this photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry’s press service through their telegram channel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov listens to North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during their talks in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Telegram channel of the Russian Foreign Ministry via AP)
He added that the Kremlin remains committed to its goals in Ukraine. “The Kremlin still wants to achieve the goal of the ‘special military operation’ and will carry it out at a steady pace until Ukraine falls apart or something else happens.”
Rumors about Lavrov’s status dismissed
Rumors that Lavrov had fallen out of favor increased when he missed an important Kremlin meeting. But on November 7, the Kremlin “rejected speculation,” Reuters reported.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives for an event in the White House Rose Garden in Washington, DC, USA, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Lavrov also reiterated Russia’s conditions for ending the war, Reuters reported. According to Reuters, he said: “No one doubts Russia’s territorial integrity and the choice of the people of Crimea, Donbas and Novorossiya,” noting that Moscow is awaiting US confirmation that previous “anchor agreements” on frozen assets remain in force.
The U.S. State Department did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
