U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the 10th (local time) that he shared 'new ideas' related to the Ukraine war during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Rubio assessed that this 'new idea' has the potential to open doors leading to peace.
According to AP and AFP reports, Secretary Rubio said at a press conference after his meeting with Minister Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Ministerial Meeting was held, 'I think this is a new and different approach.' However, he did not disclose specific details.
Secretary Rubio relayed that 'President Trump is very disappointed and discouraged that the Russian side is not showing a more flexible attitude in negotiations.' He continued, 'During this meeting, we discussed the need for a roadmap on how to end the war in the future and exchanged several ideas in that process,' adding, 'We will continue to get involved if there are areas where we can contribute.'
President Trump is considering further military support for Ukraine and supporting sanctions against Russia, as the Russian side is not cooperating with ceasefire negotiations. Secretary Rubio mentioned that the introduction of new sanctions against Russia is still possible and that decision rests with President Trump.