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Rubio: US and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks

Rubio: US and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the United States and Russia have exchanged new ideas regarding peace talks in Ukraine, following a meeting he had with his Russian counterpart on Thursday in Malaysia.

"I think it's a new and different approach," Rubio told reporters after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"I wouldn't characterize it as something that guarantees peace, but it's a concept that, you know, I'll present to the president," he added.

Rubio did not elaborate. He added that President Donald Trump was "disappointed and angry that there wasn't more flexibility from the Russian side" to end the war in Ukraine.

"We need to see a clear plan for how this conflict can end. And we shared some ideas about what that could look like," Rubio said of the 50-minute meeting with Lavrov.

"We will continue to engage where we see opportunities to make a difference," he emphasized.

Rubio and Lavrov held talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, which brings together the 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners, including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, European countries and the US.

This was their second meeting since Rubio took office, although they have spoken on the phone several times.

Their first meeting took place in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration was testing Russia and Ukraine's willingness to make peace.

Thursday's meeting came shortly after the US resumed defensive weapons deliveries to Ukraine after a hiatus, officially to review domestic ammunition stockpiles - a move that was welcomed by Moscow.

The start of the resending of aid comes at a time when Russia has significantly increased its airstrikes on Ukraine and while President Trump has shown his anger with Russian President Vladimir Putin./REL

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