By MATTHEW LEE, Related Press Diplomatic Author
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Thursday that the U.S. and Russia have exchanged new concepts for Ukraine peace talks after he met along with his Russian counterpart in Malaysia Thursday.
“I think it’s a new and a different approach,” Rubio informed reporters after talks with Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov. “I wouldn’t characterize it as something that guarantees a peace, but it’s a concept that, you know, that I’ll take back to the president.” He didn’t elaborate.
Rubio added that President Donald Trump has been “disappointed and frustrated that there’s not been more flexibility on the Russian side” to result in an finish to the battle.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, entrance, arrives at Subang Air Base, exterior of Kuala Lumpur Thursday, July 10, 2025. Rubio arrived in Malaysia to attend the ASEAN International Ministers’ Assembly. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photograph through AP)
“We need to see a roadmap moving forward about how this conflict can conclude. And then we shared some ideas about what that might look like,” he stated of the 50-minute assembly. “We’re going to continue to stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference.”
The 2 males held talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the annual Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Discussion board, which brings collectively 10 ASEAN members and their most essential diplomatic companions together with Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, European nations and the U.S.
The assembly was their second encounter since Rubio took workplace, though they’ve spoken by telephone a number of occasions. Their first assembly occurred in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, because the Trump administration sought to check Russia and Ukraine on their willingness to make peace.
Thursday’s assembly occurred shortly after the U.S. resumed some shipments of defensive weapons to Ukraine following a pause, ostensibly for the Pentagon to evaluation home munitions shares, that was cheered in Moscow.
The resumption comes as Russia fires escalating air assaults on Ukraine and as Trump has change into more and more annoyed with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US diplomatic push may very well be overshadowed by tariff threats
Rubio was additionally seeing different overseas ministers, together with many whose international locations face tariffs set to be imposed Aug. 1.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second left, meets with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, proper, on the prime minister’s workplace at Parliament because the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) International Ministers’ Assembly takes place in Kuala Lumpur Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photograph through AP)
Rubio sought to assuage issues as he held group talks with ASEAN overseas ministers.
“These are relationships and partnerships that we intend to continue to build on without seeking the approval or the permission of any other actor in the region of the world,” Rubio stated in an obvious reference to China.
Trump notified a number of international locations on Monday and Wednesday that they’ll face greater tariffs in the event that they don’t make commerce offers with the U.S. Amongst them are eight of ASEAN’s 10 members.
U.S. State Division officers stated tariffs and commerce gained’t be Rubio’s focus throughout the conferences, which Trump’s Republican administration hopes will prioritize maritime security and safety in the South China Sea, the place China has change into more and more aggressive towards its small neighbors, in addition to combating transnational crime.
However Rubio could also be hard-pressed to keep away from the tariff concern that has vexed a few of Washington’s closest allies and companions in Asia, together with Japan and South Korea and most members of ASEAN, which Trump says would face 25% tariffs if there is no such thing as a deal.
Rubio met earlier Thurday with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has warned world commerce is being weaponized to coerce weaker nations. Anwar urged the bloc Wednesday to strengthen regional commerce and scale back reliance on exterior powers.
Rubio’s “talking points on the China threat will not resonate with officials whose industries are being battered by 30-40% tariffs,” stated Danny Russel, vice chairman of the Asia Society Coverage Institute and a former assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific throughout the Obama administration.
When Anwar stated “ASEAN will approach challenges ‘as a united bloc’ he wasn’t talking about Chinese coercion but about U.S. tariffs,” Russel famous.
Majority of ASEAN members face main tariff hikes
Amongst ASEAN states, Trump has introduced tariffs on nearly all the bloc’s 10 members.
Trump despatched tariff letters to 2 extra ASEAN members Wednesday: Brunei, whose imports can be taxed at 25%, and the Philippines at 20%. Others hit this week embrace Cambodia at 36%, Indonesia at 32%, Laos at 40%, Malaysia at 25%, Myanmar at 40% and Thailand at 36%.
Vietnam not too long ago agreed to a commerce deal for a 20% tariffs on its imports, whereas Singapore nonetheless faces a ten% tariff that was imposed in April. The Trump administration has courted most Southeast Asian nations in a bid to blunt or at the very least mood China’s push to dominate the area.
In Kuala Lumpur, Rubio additionally will probably come face-to-face with China’s overseas minister throughout his go to.
Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi is a veteran of such gatherings and “fluent in ASEAN principles and conventions,” whereas Rubio “is a rookie trying to sell an ‘America First’ message to a deeply skeptical audience,” Russel famous.
Points with China stay substantial, together with commerce, human rights, militarization of the South China Sea and China’s help for Russia in Ukraine.
U.S. officers proceed to accuse China of resupplying and revamping Russia’s navy industrial sector, permitting it to provide extra weapons that can be utilized to assault Ukraine.
Earlier on Thursday, Rubio signed a memorandum on civilian nuclear vitality with Malaysia’s overseas minister, which can pave the way in which for negotiations on a extra formal nuclear cooperation deal, generally known as a 123 settlement after the part of U.S. regulation permitting such packages.
These agreements enable the U.S. authorities and U.S. corporations to work with and spend money on civilian vitality nuclear packages in different international locations below strict supervision.
Eileen Ng contributed to this report.
Initially Revealed: July 10, 2025 at 8:08 AM EDT
