Lavrov Confirms to Rubio Russia's Position on Ukraine Conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated today that he discussed the situation in Ukraine with his U.S. counterpart, Marco Rubio, and reaffirmed Moscow’s position regarding a resolution to the conflict.

“Yes, we discussed the situation in Ukraine. We reaffirmed the position that President Vladimir Putin has previously outlined, including during his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 3,” Lavrov said during a press conference following the Russia-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) meeting.

When asked about what could be perceived as a new approach from Moscow concerning Ukraine, Lavrov responded with a touch of irony, saying, “I want to answer with Trump’s own words, ‘As if I would tell you!’”

The remark referred to recent statements by the U.S. Secretary of State, who had suggested that Washington heard new proposals from Russian officials during a recent meeting, ideas that had not been previously presented regarding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Additionally, Lavrov noted that he handed Rubio a list of statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Chief of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, and Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak. According to Lavrov, these statements “explicitly express the need to eliminate Russians, either legally or physically.”

Lavrov went on to claim that Kyiv seeks “territorial integrity” solely to suppress the rights of Russian and Russian-speaking citizens and to physically eliminate those who dissent.

The meeting between Lavrov and Rubio took place the previous day in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, as part of a series of events organized by ASEAN. The conversation reportedly lasted approximately one hour.

According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two diplomats discussed bilateral relations, the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, and the broader geopolitical situations involving Iran and Syria.