US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that he directly expressed his "disappointment and frustration" to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the lack of progress in ending the war in Ukraine. The two met on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, where they held a 50-minute meeting.

“I echoed what the president (Donald Trump) said, both a disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress,” Rubio told reporters, according to The Guardian. He described their exchange as “a frank and important conversation.”

Moscow Calls It a Substantive Exchange

Russia also acknowledged the meeting, calling it “a substantive and frank exchange of views.” Both sides appeared to agree that the discussion was serious, though the path forward remains unclear.

A “New Idea” From Moscow

According to AFP, Lavrov presented “a new idea” during the meeting, though Rubio did not share details.
“It’s not a new approach. It’s a new idea or a new concept that I’ll take back to the president to discuss,” Rubio said. He warned that it “automatically [doesn’t] lead to peace, but it could potentially open the door to a path.”

Tensions Rise As Attacks Escalate

The meeting took place as Russian attacks on Ukraine intensified. Early Thursday, missiles and drones struck Kyiv, forcing thousands of people into shelters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia fired 18 missiles and about 400 drones in the latest wave—this followed a record barrage of 728 drones the previous night.

Trump’s Patience with Putin Wearing Thin

President Donald Trump, who returned to power earlier this year and promised to quickly end the war, has recently taken a harsher tone toward Russia. Although he previously paused arms deliveries to Ukraine, he resumed them just a day earlier, signaling a shift.

He also rejected Russia’s recent diplomatic moves, calling them “meaningless.” Trump is reportedly considering support for a Senate bill that would impose tough new sanctions on Russia. The bill includes 500% tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian energy and raw materials.

Rubio confirmed that the Trump administration is actively discussing the bill with the Senate.

Russia Still Open to Dialogue

Despite rising tensions and Trump’s critical stance, the Kremlin said on Wednesday that it is still committed to rebuilding relations with the United States.