Russia’s top diplomat says he’s “ready to meet” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Ukraine peace efforts, even as Moscow launches massive drone and missile attacks across the country.
Russia’s long-serving foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says he’s prepared to meet his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, in what could mark a fresh — if fragile — step toward renewed peace diplomacy between Moscow and Washington.
The comments come amid swirling reports of a rift between Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin, and as Russian forces unleashed one of their largest missile barrages on Ukraine in months.
Lavrov Says “Ready to Meet” Rubio
Speaking to Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency on Sunday, Lavrov said, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio and I understand the need for regular communication.”
He added that he is open to discussing “mending bilateral ties” and the ongoing war in Ukraine, reiterating Moscow’s long-held position that peace cannot be achieved without taking Russia’s interests into account.
That phrase — often repeated by Kremlin officials — signals that Moscow remains firm in its demands for security guarantees and territorial concessions before entering any meaningful peace talks.
Lavrov’s comments follow reports that attempts to organize a U.S.–Russia leaders’ summit were recently “put on ice,” underscoring the tense diplomatic climate between the two nuclear powers.
Russia Launches New Wave of Attacks on Ukraine
Even as diplomatic overtures continue, the war in Ukraine shows no signs of slowing. Between Friday and Saturday, Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, killing at least seven civilians.
Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Tsentrenergo confirmed that the strikes were among the largest since the war began in 2022, forcing shutdowns at major plants in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions.
“These were coordinated, large-scale attacks designed to cripple essential power systems,” Ukrainian officials said, warning of renewed blackouts and heating shortages as winter approaches.
Between Diplomacy and Destruction
The contrast between Lavrov’s diplomatic remarks and the intensifying airstrikes underscores the widening gap between peace rhetoric and battlefield reality.
While Lavrov insists Russia is open to dialogue, Western analysts argue that Moscow’s actions on the ground — including sustained bombardments of civilian infrastructure — suggest otherwise.
Still, any signal of communication between U.S. and Russian diplomats is viewed by observers as a potential opening for peace diplomacy, even if progress remains distant.
The Takeaway
As the Russia–Ukraine war grinds into another winter, talks of peace coexist uneasily with fresh waves of violence. Whether Lavrov’s outreach to Rubio represents a genuine shift or a tactical move remains to be seen — but for millions caught in the crossfire, the hope for dialogue is better than none at all.
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