U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, attends a gathering with Russia’s Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov, proper, on the sidelines of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Overseas Ministers Assembly in Pasay, Metro Manila on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Pool AFP by way of AP
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Pool AFP by way of AP
MANILA, Philippines — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned Thursday that the Trump administration is poised to assist finish the “senseless war” in Ukraine however acknowledged there isn’t a fast path to a deal, saying diplomacy would require sustained effort and new concepts.
Rubio, who held talks along with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov within the Philippine capital, alluded to how U.S.-mediated talks have stalled. He referred to as them “unsuccessful or at least unfruitful” previously however insisted that President Donald Trump was dedicated to the work “if conditions and factors have changed to make that possible.”
“That’s been the challenge — an end that both sides can accept,” Rubio instructed reporters. “We’ve tried and we’ll continue to try to see if we can, you know, find a middle ground that brings this about. And we’re prepared to play that role if the opportunity presents itself.”
Rubio met Lavrov and several other different leaders, together with China’s overseas minister, on the sidelines of an annual gathering by overseas ministers of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila.
America’s prime diplomat mentioned the U.S. is targeted on Asia even because it steps up combating with Iran, seeks a pathway to finish Russia’s battle in Ukraine and pressures the Cuban authorities to make adjustments.
ASEAN talks targeted on worldwide conflicts
Three days of closed-door talks that began Tuesday have centered on the escalating combating within the Center East and tensions within the South China Sea, the place a brand new conflict flared Thursday.
“There’s always going to be a concern that America is so focused on one place that it can’t focus on another,” Rubio mentioned. However he famous that the U.S. stays “engaged in Asia every single day,” citing sturdy partnerships and financial ties throughout the area.
After assembly with Rubio, Lavrov largely ignored questions from reporters. The Russian Overseas Ministry in Moscow mentioned he emphasised to Rubio “the unacceptability of further arming” Ukraine and accused European nations of pursuing Russia’s “strategic defeat.”
Lavrov reiterated Russia’s readiness for “a political and diplomatic resolution of the conflict” and dedication to agreements reached at a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump in Alaska final 12 months, the Russian ministry mentioned.
However Rubio mentioned “we’ll have to find new suggestions and new ideas” which are acceptable to either side. There was no change to Washington’s navy assist for Ukraine, with weapons being bought by NATO allies and transferred to the war-ravaged nation, he mentioned.
Individually on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that his precedence is discovering a strategy to get again to negotiations.
U.S. efforts to dealer an finish to the Russia-Ukraine battle have been overshadowed by the outbreak of the Iran battle earlier this 12 months. Renewed strikes by Washington and Tehran have been intensifying after an interim ceasefire deal collapsed.
“The price will continue to get higher every single night until they come to their senses,” Rubio mentioned. He insisted Tehran is “begging” for talks however Trump doesn’t see the use in responding as a result of “Iran is clearly not ready to make a deal, at least not one they’re willing to live by.”
Trump has warned Iran that the U.S. will destroy one Iranian bridge or energy plant every time Iran shoots at a ship within the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying the nation’s protection doctrine was an “eye for an eye.”
“The president’s policy is a head for an eye,” Rubio mentioned. “They will pay a very heavy price for the things they’re doing.”
China defends maritime navy actions
Australian Overseas Minister Penny Wong renewed her nation’s alarm over the Chinese language navy’s latest test-launch of a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine within the area, saying the dearth of notification to the Philippines and Pacific nations the place the missile flew over and landed was destabilizing.
“It comes in the context of a rapid military build-up of China’s nuclear arsenal without the transparency or reassurance the region expects,” Wong instructed a college discussion board in Manila on Thursday. “This is why Australia has described the test as provocative and destabilizing.”
China has defended its actions, saying the launch was a part of annual workout routines and that it gave nations within the space applicable discover prematurely.
Rubio met Wednesday with Chinese language Overseas Minister Wang Yi and mentioned they mentioned a brand new altercation this week between Chinese language and Filipino forces in a disputed shoal within the South China Sea, which Beijing claims just about in its entirety. Rubio referred to as the incident “escalatory.”
“Those need to be managed very carefully, because obviously, a conflict — be it economic or otherwise — between the U.S. and China would have a dramatic global impact,” Rubio mentioned.
He additionally mentioned they talked loads about Chinese language chief Xi Jinping’s deliberate journey in September, noting he believes Xi can have a “very positive visit when he comes to Washington.”
In Beijing, the Chinese language coast guard mentioned it took crucial measures, together with monitoring and blocking, to drive away two Philippine ships that disregarded repeated warnings from the Chinese language aspect in a contemporary confrontation Thursday. China mentioned its operations had been skilled and lawful and urged the Philippines to cease its provocative actions infringing on Chinese language territory.
The Philippine coast guard, nonetheless, mentioned the 2 fishing vessels had been harassed whereas bringing gas help to Filipino fishermen within the Scarborough shoal. It mentioned a Chinese language coast guard ship tried to spray one vessel with a strong water cannon however missed, calling these “illegal, coercive and aggressive actions.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized China’s assertive actions within the South China Sea to the drawback of smaller claimant nations just like the Philippines, Washington’s oldest treaty ally in Asia. Taiwan and ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have additionally been concerned within the often-tense territorial standoffs.
ASEAN goals to conclude yearslong negotiations with China on a proposed non-aggression pact by this 12 months, based on a draft of a joint communiqué seen by The Related Press. The code of conduct goals to stop a serious battle within the disputed waters, a key world commerce route, that would attract america.
