Lavrov and Rubio meet in New York during UN General Assembly
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week. They discussed the Ukraine war and bilateral relations, along with other regional issues; their talks were held privately.
Key points
- The meeting brought together the two countries’ foreign ministers for talks on Ukraine and bilateral ties, as well as issues beyond the war.
Evidence · 3 source statements
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in…
Besides, Lavrov and Rubio discussed "the situation in the Middle East, the South Caucasus, Latin America and the Caribbean."
- The public accounts highlighted different priorities: Lavrov’s side emphasized repairing relations and addressing what it called the conflict’s root causes, while Rubio emphasized a negotiated end to the war and the possible value of a limited ceasefire.
Evidence · 6 source statements
During the meeting, Lavrov pointed to the need to mend Moscow-Washington relations.
“The Russian side reaffirmed its unconditional commitment to achieving the goals of the special military operation, including through a political and diplomatic settlement of the…
“stressed the need to restore bilateral relations to a sound footing as soon as possible, in accordance with the agreements reached by the presidents of Russia and the United…
That war is going to end - I think everyone acknowledges - with a negotiated agreement, and we all understand that.
“I think both sides have expressed an interest in some limited ceasefire that involves grain and energy [supplies].”
“potentially alleviate some of the global pressures”
Who's involved
Sergey Lavrov
Russia’s foreign minister and a participant in the meeting.
Before the meeting, Lavrov said he planned to ask about the US position on a Ukraine settlement and US mediation. During the meeting, he stressed the need to repair Moscow-Washington relations.
What they said · 2 source statements
During the meeting, Lavrov pointed to the need to mend Moscow-Washington relations.
Russian Foreign Ministry
The ministry represented Russia’s position on the meeting’s agenda and on cooperation between the countries.
The ministry said the countries had significant potential to cooperate at the UN and described US policy there as more pragmatic. It also said Russia’s main disagreements were with Europeans, not Americans.
What they said · 4 source statements
Washington’s policy at the United Nations has become more pragmatic.
Against this backdrop, our main disagreements are arising not with the Americans, but with the Europeans, who continue to take radical and ideologized positions in line with the…
Russian government
The Russian side issued an account of its aims and demands in the bilateral relationship.
The Russian side reaffirmed its stated military-operation goals and said a political and diplomatic settlement should address the conflict’s root causes. It called for normal working conditions for diplomatic missions, the return of Russian property in the United States, and prompt restoration of bilateral relations.
What they said · 3 source statements
“The Russian side reaffirmed its unconditional commitment to achieving the goals of the special military operation, including through a political and diplomatic settlement of the…
“This requires an honest dialogue on removing 'irritants' and restoring normal working conditions for both countries’ diplomatic missions, including the return of Russian…
“stressed the need to restore bilateral relations to a sound footing as soon as possible, in accordance with the agreements reached by the presidents of Russia and the United…
Marco Rubio
The US secretary of state and a participant in the meeting.
Rubio said the war would end through a negotiated agreement and that reaching one sooner would reduce destruction and deaths. He said both sides had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire involving grain and energy supplies, while cautioning that a limited or temporary ceasefire would not itself settle the conflict.
What they said · 5 source statements
Rubio acknowledged that limited or temporary ceasefires in Ukraine would not lead to a settlement of the conflict:
That war is going to end - I think everyone acknowledges - with a negotiated agreement, and we all understand that.
And the sooner we can reach that agreement, the less things will be destroyed, and the less people are going to die on both sides.
“I think both sides have expressed an interest in some limited ceasefire that involves grain and energy [supplies].”
“potentially alleviate some of the global pressures”
What was reported
- Lavrov and Rubio met in New York on September 23 during the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly.
One source: TASS
Evidence · 2 source statements
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in…
- The talks were private and began without opening remarks for the press.
Reported independently by 2: TASS, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
The talks began with no opening remarks for the press and continued in a closed format.
- RIA Novosti described the talks as lasting about an hour; TASS reported a duration of 50 minutes.
Reported independently by 2: RIA Novosti, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
- The US State Department said the meeting covered the Russia-Ukraine war and US-Russia relations. TASS also reported discussion of the Middle East, the South Caucasus, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Reported independently by 2: TASS, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
Besides, Lavrov and Rubio discussed "the situation in the Middle East, the South Caucasus, Latin America and the Caribbean."
Still unclear
- No agreement or concrete outcome from the meeting was announced.
Not heard from
- Ukraine — Ukraine was directly affected by the war discussed at the meeting, but no Ukrainian official’s own statement appears in the reports summarized here.