Rubio Meets With Russia’s Lavrov Amid Trump’s Growing Frustration Over Ukraine Peace Process

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he echoed Trump’s growing frustration with the lack of progress in Ukraine–Russia peace talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R), on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 10, 2025. Mandel Ngan/Pool Photo via AP

Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a surprise meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on July 10 and conveyed President Donald Trump’s growing frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations to end the Russia–Ukraine war.

Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Rubio described his Thursday meeting with Lavrov as a “frank conversation.”