US, Russian diplomats hold talks on Ukraine war in Manila

US, Russian diplomats discuss Ukraine war on sidelines of ASEAN summit

The top diplomats of the United States and Russia met in Manila on Thursday to discuss the war in Ukraine during the ASEAN summit, as efforts to revive peace negotiations continue.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks on the sidelines of meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The two officials did not speak to reporters before the meeting.

According to the US State Department, the discussions focused on bilateral relations and the need to end the Russia-Ukraine war, though no additional details were released.

The meeting came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had held an important conversation with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on ways to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Rubio said on Wednesday that the war in Ukraine had complicated broader US-Russia relations but stressed Washington remained interested in exploring areas of cooperation.

"The war in Ukraine has in many ways impeded the ability of Russia and the United States to find areas of agreement on other issues," Rubio said. "At the same time, we'd like to see that war come to an end."

Lavrov said the meeting would be worthwhile, noting that it was important to exchange views and seek answers.

The two sides were also expected to discuss tensions in the Middle East, where Russia has criticised recent US strikes on its ally Iran.

Peace negotiations over Ukraine have remained stalled, with Moscow insisting Kyiv cede territory as a condition for ending the war, while Washington's diplomatic focus has increasingly shifted to the Middle East.

Rubio and Lavrov had briefly spoken during a gala dinner on Tuesday and also attended the ASEAN Regional Forum earlier on Thursday.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed support for Ukraine's long-range drone strikes on Russian energy facilities, saying such operations could help bring the conflict closer to an end.

Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks targeting Russian oil refineries, fuel depots and cargo vessels, disrupting fuel supplies. Russia, in turn, has continued large-scale missile and drone attacks, including a deadly strike on Kyiv in late June that killed at least 30 people.