US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on 23 October.

Source: Reuters, citing diplomatic sources; European Pravda

Details: A source told Reuters that at a meeting on Friday 17 October, US officials said Rubio is planning to meet Lavrov next Thursday 23 October.

The US State Department has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the location of the meeting between Lavrov and Rubio has not yet been decided.

Quote from Ryabkov: "There is absolutely no clear understanding of this. The issue is still under consideration."

More details: Ryabkov added that Russia's war against Ukraine, bilateral relations and the economic agenda may be discussed during the Rubio-Lavrov meeting.

Background:

• US President Donald Trump spoke with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on 16 October for the first time in nearly two months. Following the conversation, he announced plans for a meeting in Budapest, which would be Putin's first appearance in an EU capital since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• On 17 October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to the White House, after which Trump said that Ukraine and Russia need "to make a deal" to end the war.
• Trump also refused to provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
• Zelenskyy said he is ready to meet Putin in Budapest.

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