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Trump frustrated as there's no flexibility from Russia: Marco Rubio

Trump frustrated as there's no flexibility from Russia: Marco Rubio

Economic Times3 days ago
KUALA LUMPUR: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the US and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks after e met with his Russian counterpart in Malaysia Thursday.
"I think it's a new and a different approach," Rubio told reporters after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "I wouldn't characterise it as something that guarantees a peace, but it's a concept that, you know, that I'll take back to the president." He didn't elaborate.
Rubio added that President Donald Trump has been "disappointed and frustrated that there's not been more flexibility on the Russian side" to bring about an end to the conflict."We 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," he said of the 50-minute meeting. "We're going to continue to stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference."
The two men held talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which brings together 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, European nations and the US.
The meeting was their second since Rubio took office, although they have spoken by phone several times. Their first meeting took place in February in Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration sought to test Russia and Ukraine on their willingness to make peace.
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