Lavrov, Rubio to meet in Manila July 23 for Ukraine, Iran talks
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold face-to-face talks on July 23 in Manila, Philippines, on the sidelines of the ASEAN diplomatic summit. The main agenda includes the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Lavrov confirmed the meeting after a brief conversation with Rubio on the eve of the summit.
The Meeting
The talks are scheduled for the morning of July 23 in Manila, as confirmed by Lavrov. Both diplomats agreed to the meeting during a brief encounter at a reception the previous day. The venue is the ASEAN diplomatic summit, where both are attending.
Agenda
The primary topics are the wars in Ukraine and Iran, according to Bild and AFP. Lavrov stated that preliminary agreements were reached ahead of the meeting. The discussions aim to explore potential pathways for de-escalation in both conflicts.
Kremlin Stance
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow welcomes the dialogue between the top diplomats. The meeting marks a rare direct engagement between Russian and U.S. officials amid ongoing tensions. No specific outcomes have been pre-announced.
What's Next
The meeting is set for July 23, with results expected later that day. It remains unclear whether the talks will produce any concrete agreements or merely serve as a preliminary exchange of positions.
3 sources
Lavrov, Rubio to meet in Manila July 23 for Ukraine, Iran talks
