Lavrov offers face-to-face meeting with Rubio as Russia signals diplomatic opening amid Ukraine tensions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said helium is prepared to clasp different face-to-face gathering with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signaling Moscow’s involvement successful keeping diplomatic channels unfastened adjacent arsenic it refuses to displacement its presumption for ending the Ukraine war.

The connection was delivered to the authorities quality bureau RIA Novosti and archetypal reported by Reuters connected Sunday. "Secretary of State Marco Rubio and I recognize the request for regular communication," Lavrov said. "It is important for discussing the Ukrainian contented and promoting the bilateral agenda. That is wherefore we pass by telephone and are acceptable to clasp face-to-face meetings erstwhile necessary."

The diplomatic question comes days aft a large Russian weapons trial that raised tensions further, erstwhile President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had conducted a "successful trial of a nuclear-powered underwater torpedo." Two days later, connected Oct. 31, the United States canceled a planned Budapest acme betwixt President Donald Trump and President Putin pursuing Russia's steadfast stance connected hard-line demands regarding Ukraine.

RUSSIA'S LAVROV LOOKS TO DRAW CHINA IN ON UKRAINE'S ‘SECURITY GUARANTEES’

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, anterior his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, during the G20 acme successful Hamburg Germany, Friday July 7, 2017. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Recent Diplomatic Track

Since aboriginal this year, the 2 sides person held respective rounds of talks. On Feb. 18 successful Riyadh, Rubio and Lavrov led delegations that agreed to reconstruct mean diplomatic ngo operations and acceptable up method teams. A follow-up gathering connected Feb. 27 successful Istanbul focused connected embassy access, staffing, banking, and restoring nonstop aerial links.

The brace met again connected July 10 successful Kuala Lumpur, wherever Rubio delivered what helium called a "frank" connection conveying Trump’s vexation astatine Russia’s deficiency of flexibility. On Sept. 24, during the U.N. General Assembly successful New York, Rubio pressed Moscow again to instrumentality "meaningful steps toward a durable resolution," according to a State Department readout.

A Russian writer speaking from Moscow connected information of anonymity told Fox News Digital that the atomic trial should beryllium work arsenic governmental signaling. "At the infinitesimal Russia and the U.S. are trying to consciousness each different retired successful the diplomatic field. Nuclear trial turmoil is simply a diplomatic lever and thing more," helium said. Trump and Putin are "trying to play Nixon’s ‘crazy president’ paper to spot who chickens first, besides to trial reaction."

TRUMP FREEZES OUT PUTIN FOR LACK OF ‘ENOUGH ACTION’ TOWARD PEACE — FUTURE TALKS UNCERTAIN

In this photograph released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via their telegram channel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov listens to North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during their talks successful Pyongyang, North Korea, connected Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.  (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service telegram transmission via AP)

He added that the Kremlin remains committed to its objectives successful Ukraine. "The Kremlin inactive wants to scope the nonsubjective of the ‘special subject operation’ and is going to play it astatine a dependable gait until Ukraine crumbles oregon thing other happens."

Rumors Around Lavrov’s Status Rejected

Rumors that Lavrov had fallen retired of favour intensified erstwhile helium missed a large Kremlin meeting. But connected Nov. 7, the Kremlin "dismissed speculation," Reuters reported.

The Moscow writer confirmed the accusation to Fox News Digital: "The Kremlin denied these rumors twice. And it says a batch that Lavrov is not successful disgrace. In Russia, usually officials successful disgrace suffer their presumption earlier it’s adjacent go known to the public." He added that Lavrov publically addressed respective issues yesterday, "so helium is seemingly sitting astatine the Foreign Ministry seat firmly."

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Marco Rubio, US caput of state, arrives  for an lawsuit successful the Rose Garden of the White House successful Washington, DC, US, connected Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Lavrov besides reiterated Russia’s conditions for ending the war, Reuters reported. According to Reuters, helium said, "No 1 questions the territorial integrity of Russia and the prime of the residents of Crimea, Donbas and Novorossiya," and noted that Moscow is waiting for U.S. confirmation that earlier "Anchorage agreements" connected frozen assets stay successful force.

The U.S. State Dept. did not respond to a petition for remark earlier work time.