Marco Rubio to Meet Russia’s Lavrov in New York

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York City on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. State Department, as diplomatic attention remains focused on the Russia-Ukraine war.

The high-level Rubio-Lavrov meeting comes on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and amid continued efforts to find a path toward ending the conflict in Ukraine. Discussions are expected to include the war and broader U.S.-Russia relations.

The meeting follows talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Zelenskiy said the two leaders discussed possible steps toward ending the war, including a potential bilateral ceasefire covering attacks on energy-related targets.

However, efforts to reduce attacks on energy infrastructure have faced setbacks. Trump said last week that Russia and Ukraine had agreed not to strike energy targets, but hostilities quickly continued. Russia subsequently attacked petrol stations in Kyiv, while Ukraine targeted a Russian oil refinery.

Lavrov has said Russia would continue military operations while potential negotiations are underway, highlighting the significant obstacles facing diplomatic efforts. The Russian foreign minister is also scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

Fighting has continued despite the diplomatic activity in New York. Russian strikes killed eight people in Ukraine's industrial heartland and other frontline areas on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukraine's military also reported strikes against Russian oil refineries in Ufa and the Samara region. A regional Russian official said Ukrainian drones killed one person and injured four in Samara. Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians.

The Rubio-Lavrov talks will therefore take place against a backdrop of ongoing military escalation and renewed international efforts to explore possible ceasefire arrangements.