Unexpected Encounter: Rubio and Lavrov Hold Private Talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio unexpectedly met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. The meeting took place shortly after President Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in peace talks concerning the Ukraine war. There were no pre-meeting remarks from either Rubio or Lavrov. When asked about his intended message to his Russian counterpart, Rubio simply winked. This meeting unfolded against the backdrop of a pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine, directed by the Pentagon, a move publicly criticized by President Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the halt without informing the White House. Following this, Trump criticized Putin and approved sending defensive weapons to Ukraine, while also dismissing Putin’s previous statements as “meaningless.” After these events, Russia initiated its most extensive drone attack on Ukraine, utilizing more than 700 drones.