The Kremlin on Tuesday warned against any “excessive optimism” about a potential peace breakthrough following a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manila.
What the Kremlin said
In a statement released after the talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that while dialogue is always welcome, “it would be a mistake to assume that a single meeting can resolve the deep-rooted differences between our countries.” He added that Moscow remains skeptical about Washington’s intentions and that any progress would require concrete actions, not just words.
The meeting in Manila
Rubio and Lavrov met on the sidelines of a regional security forum in the Philippine capital. The encounter was the first high-level face-to-face between the two since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. According to a brief readout from the State Department, Rubio reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Lavrov repeated Russia’s position that Western sanctions and arms deliveries are prolonging the war.
No breakthrough expected
Neither side described the meeting as a step toward a ceasefire or peace deal. The Kremlin’s warning appeared aimed at tempering any speculation that the Manila talks could lead to a rapid de-escalation. “We are not seeing any signs that the U.S. is ready to address the root causes of the crisis,” Peskov said.
The meeting lasted about 45 minutes, according to a Russian diplomatic source. No joint statement was issued, and no follow-up talks have been announced.
What comes next
Both diplomats are expected to remain in Manila for the remainder of the forum. The Kremlin has not indicated any willingness to change its stance on Ukraine, and the U.S. has not signaled any shift in its policy of arming Kyiv. The next possible point of contact between the two sides could come at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
