On the 23rd, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Rubio that it is unacceptable to continue providing weapons to Ukraine.
Lavrov and Rubio held talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings in the Philippines that day.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova, the meeting was initiated by the U.S. side.
According to a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov stated during the talks that it is unacceptable to continue providing weapons to Ukraine.
Lavrov said that European countries still seek to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, while Russia is willing to resolve the Ukraine crisis through political and diplomatic means.
In addition, the U.S. State Department issued a brief statement noting that Rubio and Lavrov discussed U.S.-Russia relations and the necessity of ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In response to Lavrov's request to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine, Rubio told the media that the U.S. sells weapons through the "Ukraine Priority Requirements List" mechanism, "Our policy in this regard has not changed."
The so-called "Ukraine Priority Requirements List" mechanism was initiated by the United States and NATO. Its mode of operation is that Ukraine lists its "urgent needs," NATO is responsible for coordinating the purchase of U.S. weapons and technology, and the necessary funds are raised by other NATO member states (outside the U.S.) through "voluntary donations."
Rubio said that the U.S. remains open to U.S.-Russia meetings. The Ukraine conflict hampers consensus between the two sides on many other topics, but this does not mean the two will seek cooperation in other fields.