US, Russia Discuss Ukraine Stalemate at ASEAN Summit

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, expressing disappointment over stalled Ukraine peace efforts and reinforcing President Donald Trump's criticisms of Russia's position. Rubio described the meeting as frank and substantive, mentioning that Lavrov presented a new idea about Ukraine but did not disclose details, cautioning it was not a breakthrough. Intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine and a recently reversed pause in U.S. arms shipments provided the backdrop for the talks. Trump has become more vocal in his criticism of Putin and is considering stronger sanctions against Russia. Both U.S. and Russian officials reiterated their commitment to pursuing a peaceful resolution through ongoing dialogue. Additionally, Rubio disclosed that AI impersonation attempts had recently targeted him and other officials, underscoring rising security concerns involving artificial intelligence.