Russia’s Lavrov: I am ready to meet Rubio

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said communication with the US was ‘important for discussing the Ukrainian issue and promoting the bilateral agenda.’ (AFP)
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Updated 09 November 2025
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Russia’s Lavrov: I am ready to meet Rubio

  • Russia’s top envoy says such communication was important

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was ready to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio but that Russia’s interests would have to be taken into account for there to be peace in Ukraine.

The Kremlin on Friday dismissed speculation that Lavrov had fallen out of favor with Vladimir Putin after efforts to organize a summit between the Russian president and Donald Trump were put on ice last month.

Reuters and other media reported that Washington called off the new summit after Lavrov’s ministry sent a message indicating Moscow was not prepared to yield on its demands over Ukraine. Britain’s Financial Times cited a source as suggesting that Lavrov’s conversation with Rubio had put Washington off.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio and I understand the need for regular communication,” Lavrov told state news agency RIA.

“It is important for discussing the Ukrainian issue and promoting the bilateral agenda. That is why we communicate by telephone and are ready to hold face-to-face meetings when necessary,” Lavrov said.


Putin and Trump discuss Iran and Ukraine wars: Kremlin

Updated 09 March 2026
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Putin and Trump discuss Iran and Ukraine wars: Kremlin

  • Putin and Trump held a one-hour call in their first talks since December

MOSCOW: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on Monday discussed the Iran war and Ukraine conflict during a “frank and constructive” telephone call, the Kremlin said.
Putin and Trump held a one-hour call in their first talks since December and Washington sought the discussion, Putin’s diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
“The accent was placed on the situation surrounding the conflict with Iran and the bilateral negotiations underway with the representatives of the United States on settling the Ukrainian question,” Ushakov said.
Ushakov said Putin called for a “quick political and diplomatic settlement” to the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has been a key ally for Russia.
The Russian leader also gave Trump “a description of the current situation on the line of contact where Russian troops are progressing with a lot of success,” he added, referring to the Ukraine war.
Putin “positively evaluated the mediation efforts undertaken” by Trump in the Ukraine conflict, the adviser said. A series of talks have been held between Russian and US officials and between Russian, US and Ukrainian officials, but with no breakthrough in efforts to reach a ceasefire.
Ushakov said Washington had wanted to “discuss a series of extremely important questions linked to the current international situation.”
“The conversation was serious and constructive,” he added.
Trump and Putin held a summit in Alaska in August last year.