Sergey Lavrov says Russia prepared for "political-diplomatic resolution" to Ukraine conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila on Thursday during an ASEAN summit, their first face-to-face talk since September 2025. Lavrov, according to Moscow’s statement, told Rubio that continued American weapons deliveries to Ukraine were unacceptable and criticized European nations for seeking a strategic defeat of Russia. The US State Department reported the pair discussed ending the war in Ukraine. Lavrov indicated Russia is prepared for a political-diplomatic settlement of the conflict, per the Russian foreign ministry. The meeting comes as Washington shifts focus from mediating in Ukraine to the Middle East, and as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky separately spoke with Trump envoys about reinvigorating peace efforts.