Lavrov and Rubio hold talks in the Philippines lasting just over half an hour

Talks between Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, and Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, concluded in Manila, Philippines, and lasted 35 minutes, RIA Novosti reports. According to the secretary of state’s schedule, about half an hour had been allotted for the meeting with the Russian minister. A diplomatic source said the American side had initiated the meeting.

The day before, the Russian minister expressed confidence that the meeting would be useful in any case and said he would ask Rubio what position the US currently holds on a Ukraine settlement. Rubio, for his part, said he intended to discuss with Lavrov whether the US currently has an opportunity to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov, at the meeting with Rubio, stated that further pumping of weapons into Ukraine was unacceptable. He also drew attention to the destabilizing policy of European countries, which are still trying to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia. At the same time, the minister confirmed Moscow’s readiness for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict and its commitment to the American proposals made at the Anchorage summit.

Lavrov and Rubio agreed to continue contacts through their foreign ministries. The two sides also touched on the situation in the Persian Gulf.