During the ASEAN Summit, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov engaged in a private exchange on the sidelines of the event. The meeting, described by Moscow as a ‘frank exchange,’ occurred as the two leaders discussed the ongoing Ukraine war. While Blinken claimed that Lavrov presented a ‘new’ approach to resolving the conflict, he did not provide further details on the proposal. The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the meeting took place, stating the dialogue was conducted in a straightforward and direct manner. This interaction reflects the delicate balance of diplomatic engagement between the two nations amid the war’s prolonged tensions.