Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday for direct talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings. The encounter marks their first face-to-face engagement since earlier discussions held in Riyadh this February.

While the details of the conversation were not disclosed, sources familiar with the talks said both sides reiterated their intent to explore options for restoring communication and stability in U.S.-Russia relations, which have remained strained over issues including the war in Ukraine, cyberattacks, and sanctions.

The meeting follows a series of phone exchanges between the two officials, laying the groundwork for more structured dialogue between Washington and Moscow despite ongoing geopolitical rivalries.

ASEAN Platform Used For Quiet Diplomacy

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit has increasingly become a space for major powers to conduct back-channel diplomacy. The Lavrov-Rubio meeting signals a possible thaw, or at least a strategic reassessment, in how the two countries engage amid shifting global alliances and security challenges.

Observers noted that the presence of both diplomats in Kuala Lumpur offered a low-profile setting conducive to exploratory talks, away from the intense spotlight of Washington or Moscow.