Russia's Lavrov Says He Will Meet Rubio to Discuss Ukraine on July 23

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that he will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, on July 23. The news was reported by Russian news agency Interfax, citing Lavrov's press conference in Manila.

Lavrov stated that the meeting will take place on the morning of July 23. He added that Moscow assumes Washington has not yet withdrawn the proposals made in Anchorage. "We proceed from the assumption that at least for now our American colleagues have not withdrawn their own proposals, which were made and which are now well known to everyone, since there have been many comments," the Russian foreign minister said.

Lavrov also mentioned that he plans to ask Rubio about US President Donald Trump's prediction regarding a settlement of the war in Ukraine drawing closer. Both diplomats are in Manila to attend events of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In June, Rubio stated that no agreements on Ukraine were reached during last year's summit in Anchorage between Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. He made this remark after Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov and Lavrov accused the US of betraying the so-called "spirit of Anchorage." Lavrov also said that US actions show Washington is no longer seeking to present itself as an impartial mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The phrase "spirit of Anchorage" (also referred to as the "Anchorage understanding") has long served as a key element of Russian diplomacy and propaganda. The Kremlin used it to promote the belief that Trump supported Russia's main demand: handing over the entire Donbas to Moscow in exchange for freezing the line of contact. Although the US has never officially confirmed that such an agreement existed, Russia repeatedly used the phrase to create the impression that Washington had accepted these terms.