In a notable diplomatic development amid fluctuating US-Russia relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur today. The talks, confirmed by both Washington and Moscow, mark a continued effort to stabilize relations between the two global powers during a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

This will be the second in-person meeting between the two diplomats since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. Their previous face-to-face occurred in February in Saudi Arabia, and while both governments have confirmed regular phone conversations, personal meetings remain rare.

The US State Department listed the Lavrov-Rubio meeting on its official schedule, indicating a 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. GMT) start. The agenda has not been made public, but sources familiar with the situation suggest the discussions will focus on Ukraine, strategic arms control, cybersecurity, and the increasingly contentious presence of both powers in Asia-Pacific.

Speaking to Russian news agency TASS, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the meeting preparations were underway. “Yes, a meeting is in the works,” she stated on July 10, indicating that both sides remain open to diplomatic engagement despite widening rifts.

The Kremlin has expressed cautious optimism about the encounter. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledged that bilateral relations remain “significantly damaged” but........

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