KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) 鈥� said Thursday that the U.S. and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks after he met with his Russian counterpart in Malaysia Thursday.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a new and a different approach," Rubio told reporters after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 characterize it as something that guarantees a peace, but it鈥檚 a concept that, you know, that I鈥檒l take back to the president.鈥� He didn't elaborate.
Rubio added that President Donald Trump has been 鈥渄isappointed and frustrated that there鈥檚 not been more flexibility on the Russian side" to bring about an end to the conflict.
鈥淲e 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,鈥� he said of the 50-minute meeting. "We鈥檙e going to continue to stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference.鈥�
In a statement released shortly after Thursday鈥檚 meeting, Russia鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said that 鈥渟ubstantive and frank exchange of views鈥� had taken place on issues including Ukraine, Iran, Syria, and other global problems.
鈥淏oth countries reaffirmed their mutual commitment to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, restoring Russian-American economic and humanitarian cooperation, and unimpeded contact between the societies of the two countries, something which could be facilitated by resuming direct air traffic," the statement said. 鈥淭he importance of further work to normalize bilateral diplomatic relations was also emphasized."
The two men held talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the annual Regional Forum, which brings together 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, European nations and the U.S.
The meeting was their second encounter since Rubio took office, although they have spoken by phone several times. Their first meeting took place in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration sought to test Russia and Ukraine on their willingness to make peace.
Thursday's meeting occurred shortly after the U.S. resumed some shipments of defensive weapons to Ukraine following a pause, ostensibly for the Pentagon to review domestic munitions stocks, that was cheered in Moscow.
The resumption comes as Russia fires and as has become increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US diplomatic push could be overshadowed by tariff threats
Rubio was also seeing other foreign ministers, including many whose countries face Aug. 1.
鈥淭hese letters that are going out in these trade changes are happening with every country in the world,鈥� Rubio told reporters. 鈥淎nywhere in the world I would have traveled this week they got a letter.鈥�
Rubio sought to assuage concerns as he held group talks with ASEAN foreign ministers.
鈥淭he Indo Pacific, the region, remains a focal point of U.S. foreign policy,鈥� he told them. 鈥淲hen I hear in the news that perhaps the United States or the world might be distracted by events in other parts of the planet, I would say distraction is impossible, because it is our strong view and the reality that this century and the story of next 50 years will largely be written here in this region.鈥�
鈥淭hese 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,鈥� Rubio said in an apparent reference to China.
Trump on Monday and Wednesday that they will face higher tariffs if they don鈥檛 make trade deals with the U.S. Among them are eight of ASEAN's 10 members.
U.S. State Department officials said tariffs and trade won't be Rubio鈥檚 focus during the meetings, which Trump鈥檚 Republican administration hopes will prioritize maritime safety and security in , where China has become increasingly aggressive toward , as well as combating transnational crime.
But Rubio may be hard-pressed to avoid the tariff issue that has vexed some of Washington's closest allies and partners in Asia, including Japan and South Korea and most members of ASEAN, which Trump says would face if there is no deal.
Rubio met earlier Thurday with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has warned global trade is being weaponized to coerce weaker nations. Anwar urged the bloc Wednesday to strengthen regional trade and reduce reliance on external powers.
Rubio鈥檚 鈥渢alking points on the China threat will not resonate with officials whose industries are being battered by 30-40% tariffs,鈥� said Danny Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific during the Obama administration.
When Anwar said "ASEAN will approach challenges 鈥榓s a united bloc鈥� he wasn鈥檛 talking about Chinese coercion but about U.S. tariffs,鈥� Russel noted.
Majority of ASEAN members face major tariff hikes
Among ASEAN states, Trump has announced tariffs on almost all of the bloc's 10 members.
to two more ASEAN members Wednesday: Brunei, whose imports would be taxed at 25%, and the Philippines at 20%. Others hit this week include Cambodia at 36%, Indonesia at 32%, Laos at 40%, Malaysia at 25%, Myanmar at 40% and Thailand at 36%.
Vietnam recently for a 20% tariffs on its imports, while Singapore still faces a 10% tariff that was imposed in April. The Trump administration has courted most Southeast Asian nations in a bid to blunt or at least temper China鈥檚 push to dominate the region.
In Kuala Lumpur, Rubio also will likely come face-to-face with China's foreign minister during his visit.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is a veteran of such gatherings and 鈥渇luent in ASEAN principles and conventions,鈥� while Rubio 鈥渋s a rookie trying to sell an 鈥楢merica First鈥� message to a deeply skeptical audience," Russel noted.
Issues with China remain substantial, including trade, human rights, militarization of the South China Sea and China's support for Russia in Ukraine.
U.S. officials continue to accuse China of resupplying and revamping Russia鈥檚 military industrial sector, allowing it to produce additional weapons that can be used to attack Ukraine.
Earlier on Thursday, Rubio signed a memorandum on civilian nuclear energy with Malaysia鈥檚 foreign minister, which will pave the way for negotiations on a more formal nuclear cooperation deal, known as a 123 agreement after the section of U.S. law allowing such programs.
Those agreements allow the U.S. government and U.S. companies to work with and invest in civilian energy nuclear programs in other countries under strict supervision.
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Eileen Ng contributed to this report.
Matthew Lee, The Associated Press
