Russia has warned the United States against supplying additional weapons to Ukraine, describing continued military assistance to Kyiv as “unacceptable” during high-level talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila, Philippines. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Summit.
According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Lavrov told Rubio that further American arms deliveries would only prolong the conflict and increase regional instability. He also accused several European countries of pursuing policies aimed at inflicting what Moscow described as a “strategic defeat” on Russia through continued military support for Ukraine.
Despite the sharp criticism, Moscow reiterated its willingness to pursue a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to engage in negotiations while stressing that meaningful progress would require an end to the flow of Western weapons into Ukraine.
The US State Department said the meeting focused on the broader US-Russia relationship and the need to bring the more than four-year war in Ukraine to an end. While no major breakthrough was announced, both sides acknowledged the importance of maintaining diplomatic engagement despite deep disagreements over the conflict.
The talks come as Washington continues to support Ukraine with military assistance while also pursuing diplomatic efforts to end the war. The latest exchange highlights the enduring divide between Moscow and Washington over the conflict, with Russia insisting that continued arms supplies fuel hostilities and the United States maintaining that military support remains essential for Ukraine’s defence.
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