U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with his Russian counterpart in Malaysia on Thursday, July 10, after Moscow unleashed its second major attack on Ukraine in as many days.
Rubio’s first visit to Asia as secretary of state also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump ramps up his trade war, threatening more than 20 countries with punitive tariffs.
Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least two people, the city’s military administration said on Thursday, after earlier warning of incoming missiles and reporting around a dozen wounded.
Rubio and Lavrov last met in person in February in Saudi Arabia, following a rapprochement between Trump and Putin. The two diplomats have also spoken multiple times by phone.
U.S. officials said ahead of Rubio’s trip that Washington was “prioritising” its commitment to East Asia and Southeast Asia. But Trump has also threatened more than 20 countries, many in Asia, with punitive duties.
