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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Philippines capital, Manila, on Thursday, July 23, for talks expected to center on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
"The meeting will be useful in any case. It's good to ask questions and get answers," Lavrov told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the talks would be held Thursday morning on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' gathering.
Lavrov indicated he intends to ask Rubio about Trump's recent prediction that a settlement to the Ukraine war is drawing closer. He added that Moscow assumes Washington has not withdrawn proposals it previously put forward in Anchorage.
Rubio also confirmed he would discuss prospects for ending the war in Ukraine during the meeting with Lavrov.
"We are going to talk about it. We'd like to see that war coming to an end. The U.S. remains open and willing to play a constructive role in bringing that war to an end, when that opportunity presents itself," Rubio told reporters.
He added that he had briefly seen Lavrov the previous evening but had not discussed the issue at the time. "I saw Foreign Minister Lavrov last night briefly. We did not talk about any of this. We'll talk more tomorrow."
Russian financial markets gained ground after news of the planned talks broke. The Moscow Exchange index climbed above 2,100 points by midday Wednesday.
The meeting comes as U.S.-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine remain at a standstill, with Russia maintaining its demands that Ukraine cede territory. At the same time, Moscow has condemned Washington's latest strikes on Iran, one of Russia's key allies.
Recent Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russian oil refineries have contributed to fuel shortages across Russia, one of the world's largest oil producers.
Meanwhile, both Ukraine and Russia have expanded attacks in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, targeting oil tankers, commercial vessels, port infrastructure and shipping routes, disrupting crude exports and maritime trade.
Russia continues to refer to the "spirit of Anchorage," a phrase the Kremlin has used to suggest Washington accepted Moscow's position on Ukraine, although the United States has never officially confirmed such an understanding.
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