Rubio to Meet Lavrov in New York as Ukraine War Talks Continue

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York on Wednesday as Washington continues efforts to find a way to end the Ukraine war.

The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where leaders and senior officials from around the world have gathered this week.

The meeting comes as fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues, with attempts to reach even limited ceasefire agreements facing difficulties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also met U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.N. on Tuesday. Their discussions included efforts to end the war and a possible agreement to stop attacks on energy infrastructure.

Energy Truce Remains a Key Issue

Attacks on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine are likely to remain an important issue as Rubio and Lavrov meet. Trump said last week that Russia and Ukraine had agreed not to target energy facilities, but the understanding has come under pressure following further attacks.

Zelenskiy has said Ukraine is ready to support a temporary energy ceasefire covering energy targets if Russia agrees to the same arrangement. The issue has become particularly important as winter approaches and Ukraine faces the possibility of further attacks on its power infrastructure.

Russia has continued its military operations despite diplomatic efforts. Lavrov said last week that Moscow would not stop fighting in Ukraine while discussions about a possible settlement were taking place. His comments underline the gap between the two sides as the United States tries to keep negotiations moving.

Ukraine has also continued attacks on Russian energy facilities. The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday that it had struck an oil refinery in Ufa, more than 1,300 km from Ukraine, as well as the Kuibyshev refinery in Russia's Samara region. Samara's governor said Ukrainian drones had hit civilian targets, killing one person and injuring four. Both Russia and Ukraine have denied deliberately targeting civilians.

Washington and Moscow Keep Direct Contact

The meeting will be another direct conversation between Rubio and Lavrov as Washington keeps its U.S.-Russia diplomatic relations channel with Moscow open. The two officials have met several times since the Trump administration began its efforts to improve communication with Russia.

Rubio and Lavrov last met in Manila in July on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering. At the time, Rubio said the United States remained willing to play a role in efforts to end the war.

Their meetings have allowed Washington and Moscow to discuss the conflict directly, even though major differences remain over how the war should end. Issues including territory, security guarantees and the conditions for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire remain difficult areas in any potential negotiations.

Lavrov is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and is expected to address the gathering on Saturday. His meeting with Rubio comes during a week of intense diplomatic activity, with Ukraine seeking continued U.S. support while Washington explores possible ways to reduce the fighting.

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Wednesday's Rubio-Lavrov meeting is not expected to resolve the wider differences between Russia and Ukraine. However, continued communication between U.S. and Russian officials could provide a channel for discussing possible limited agreements and broader Ukraine peace talks as the conflict continues.