Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has proposed a face-to-face meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicating Russia’s intention to keep diplomatic channels open despite the ongoing tensions of the Ukraine war. The development was first reported by Reuters on November 9, 2025, with Lavrov highlighting the necessity of consistent communication to tackle the Ukrainian issue and further bilateral relations.
This diplomatic movement follows a significant Russian weapons test that heightened tensions, with President Vladimir Putin announcing a ‘successful test of a nuclear-powered underwater torpedo.’ Two days later, the United States canceled a planned Budapest summit between President Donald Trump and President Putin following Russia’s firm stance on its hard-line demands regarding Ukraine.
Since early this year, Russia and the U.S. have engaged in several rounds of talks. In February, Rubio and Lavrov led delegations that agreed to restore normal diplomatic missions and set up technical teams. A follow-up meeting in Istanbul on February 27 addressed embassy access, staffing, banking, and direct air links. The pair met again on July 10 in Kuala Lumpur, where Rubio delivered a ‘frank’ message about Trump’s frustration with Russia’s lack of flexibility.
At the U.N. General Assembly on September 24, Rubio pressed Moscow again to take ‘meaningful steps toward a durable resolution,’ according to a State Department readout. A Russian journalist described the nuclear test as a form of political signaling, suggesting that both Russia and the U.S. are trying to gauge each other’s stance in the diplomatic arena. The Kremlin remains committed to its objectives in Ukraine, aiming to achieve the ‘special military operation’ at a steady pace until Ukraine crumbles or other events occur.
Rumors of Lavrov falling out of favor were intensified when he missed a major Kremlin meeting, but the Kremlin denied these rumors on November 7, indicating his continued role. Lavrov also reiterated Russia’s conditions for ending the war, stating that no one questions the territorial integrity of Russia and the choice of the residents of Crimea, Donbas, and Novorossiya, while awaiting U.S. confirmation that the Anchorage agreements on frozen assets remain in force.