MANILA — Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, marking one of the highest-level direct contacts between Washington and Moscow in recent months. The meeting underscored President Donald Trump’s stated goal of pursuing a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.

Following the talks, Rubio told reporters that President Trump remains focused on bringing the conflict to a close and reducing the human cost of the war.

“We want a peace deal. We want the war to end. We’re prepared to play whatever positive role we can to end the war,” Rubio said. “In the end, what the President most cares about is that people stop dying, that people stop being slaughtered, so that Ukraine can live in peace and people can move back to rebuild.”

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇸 Diplomats of the Russian Federation and United States met in Manila.

The meeting lasted roughly 35min.

I’m glad the Kremlin is no longer entertaining the empty long talks. They want us to help against Iran, while they actively fund/help Ukraine to kiII our civilians. pic.twitter.com/KX1OXUov2C

— Spetsnaℤ 007 🇷🇺 (@Alex_Oloyede2) July 23, 2026

For supporters of the Trump administration, the meeting represents a shift toward direct diplomacy after years of prolonged fighting that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions.

A Push for Negotiation

According to administration officials, the discussion covered the war in Ukraine, broader U.S.-Russia relations, and the importance of maintaining diplomatic communication between the two countries.

The Trump administration has repeatedly argued that keeping dialogue open is essential if any lasting peace agreement is to be achieved. Officials say restoring regular diplomatic engagement is necessary even when disagreements remain significant.

Administration representatives have also continued discussions with Ukrainian officials as part of efforts to explore possible paths toward negotiations.

America-First Diplomacy

President Trump has consistently said his priority is ending conflicts that cost lives and drain resources. His supporters argue that strong diplomacy, backed by American leadership, offers a better path than allowing wars to continue indefinitely.

The administration maintains that its objective is straightforward: encourage negotiations that can produce a durable peace while protecting U.S. interests and promoting stability.

Europe Continues Pressure Campaign

As Washington pursues diplomatic engagement, the European Union announced another package of sanctions targeting Russia, including additional measures affecting the energy sector.