Kremlin warns against optimism on peace after Rubio, Lavrov meet in Manila

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Manila. The two discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Rubio emphasizing the U.S. willingness to facilitate peace talks.

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If, when peace comes, it'll be because of some new idea and some new concepts, and we're prepared to offer some of those in the right setting and form if the opportunity presents itself and the conditions are right. We're prepared to play that role in a positive way.

Rubio described the conversation as "frank" and indicated that the U.S. is "prepared to play that role in a positive way" if new ideas and concepts emerge to restart peace accords. He acknowledged the war's brutality and the need for both sides to have an incentive to end it, noting the challenge of finding an acceptable resolution.

However, Moscow remains unoptimistic about immediate progress. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media that while communication is ongoing, it would be premature to discuss new trends or accelerated efforts toward peace. Russia has consistently demanded the U.S. cease arms supplies to Ukraine and revert to positions aligned with the "Alaska Understandings," which reportedly involve pressuring Ukraine to cede control of the Donbas region – a nonstarter for Kyiv.

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I think it is a very bloody war. I think both sides should have an incentive to bring it to an end. That's been the challenge: an end that both sides can accept, and we've tried, and we'll continue to try to see if we can find a middle ground that brings this about.

Despite the Kremlin's skepticism, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's readiness for a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict. The meeting occurred amidst ongoing efforts to find a path toward de-escalation, though significant obstacles remain, particularly regarding territorial concessions and the cessation of military aid.

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In this situation, I wouldn’t be too optimistic. Communication is indeed ongoing. This is always a positive thing, but at this point, it wouldn’t be right to talk about any new trends or accelerated efforts.