Marco Rubio to Meet Sergey Lavrov in Malaysia Amid Ukraine Tensions

Marco Rubio to Meet Lavrov in Malaysia Amid Ukraine Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

This meeting occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

ASEAN Conference and Diplomatic Efforts

Rubio's visit to Kuala Lumpur marks his attendance at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, gathering ten ASEAN member states and key diplomatic partners. This will be the second face-to-face meeting between Rubio and Lavrov, following their meeting in Saudi Arabia earlier in the year.

US Resumes Arms Shipments to Ukraine

The meeting follows the U.S. resuming defensive weapon shipments to Ukraine after a Pentagon review. Amid these developments, President Trump has criticized President Putin's actions in Ukraine, leading to renewed arms supplies.

Expected Discussions

Discussions during the ASEAN meeting are also expected to touch on maritime safety in the South China Sea, although trade tariffs are not the primary focus.