Rubio-Lavrov Talks: US Condemns ‘Abhorrent’ Russian Attacks on Ukraine
The United States on Thursday “strongly condemned” Russia’s record-breaking attacks on Ukraine calling it “abhorrent”.
“The escalating Russian attacks – the President [Donald Trump] has been clear they’re abhorrent,” State Department’s spokesperson Tammy Bruce told Kyiv Post’s Washington correspondent during a daily briefing.
“I can say to you here that we strongly condemn Russia’s escalating attacks on Ukraine and extend our deepest condolences to the victims and families of those killed,” she added.
Russia on Thursday, once again, pounded Ukraine’s capital with another major missile and drone attack, killing two and injuring several others, Ukrainian officials said.
The move came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Thursday afternoon to convey to him Trump’s “disappointment and frustration” at the lack of progress in ending the Ukraine war.
The pair met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting.
Rubio also revealed that the Russians shared “some fresh ideas” for possible Ukraine peace talks, and that he would take back to Trump.
“The President is the guiding hand of these kinds of decisions,” Bruce told reporters without offering further details about the Russian ideas or whether they were going to open a path for peace.
For Ukraine watchers in Washington, the Rubio-Lavrov meeting, on its surface, isn’t necessarily notable. However, it came as a seismic shift is underway in Trump’s approach to Russia – and as he seems to have finally reached the limit of his patience with Putin.
As the Kremlin continues to attack Ukraine, Putin is also putting Trump’s reputation as an expert negotiator – and his desire for a Nobel Peace Prize – on the line.
Speaking to Kyiv Post, Daniel Fried, former assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs in the Bush and Obama administrations, said that while warning Lavrov about future actions and conveying the US President’s frustration with Putin’s conduct can be beneficial, Rubio should avoid “chasing Lavrov” or “falling into his trap.”
“But it seems Rubio indeed told him, ‘Look, the [US] President is pissed off. You are not helping. We’re turning to other methods.’ I think he gave Lavrov a pretty firm message, which is good,” Fried said.
In the meantime, Fried noted Rubio’s public mention of “certain Russian ideas.” Having experience with Russian diplomacy, the veteran diplomat views these “ideas” with skepticism, describing them as attempts to create new “rabbit holes” to distract Western interlocutors. He advises against falling for such tactics.
“I am skeptical that the Russians were offering anything meaningful. I guess we’ll see.. It’s Lavrov… Of course, they’re trying to manipulate us,” Fried said, adding that Rubio should brief his Ukrainian counterpart about his conversation with Lavrov “so that we quickly avoid letting the Russians ‘bilateralize’ this – and that we and the Russians don’t make some deal at Ukraine’s expense.”
Fried underscored that the Trump administration needs to “act decisively” rather than allowing Russia to draw them into a “negotiating rabbit hole.”
He suggested that the US should explicitly state its commitment to Ukraine by supplying weapons – whether through Lend-Lease or by facilitating purchases and shipments via allies like Germany.
“Trump should make clear that there will be US weapons, one way or another, flowing to Ukraine,” he said.Furthermore, Fried urged Trump to support the Graham-Blumenthal bill on Russia Sanctions.
“That bill needs to be changed; its central provision about 500% tariffs doesn’t strike me as workable. However, it could be modified into something effective that needs to pass,” former diplomat said, adding, “if that happens, Russia will be in a different and far worse position.”
Source: Alex Raufoglu