U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a significant meeting in Malaysia on Thursday, focusing on the future of the Ukraine war and Russia’s hardened stance. The meeting coincided with a major Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv. Rubio emphasized the need for a roadmap to resolve the conflict, while Lavrov confirmed clear exchanges of views on Ukraine, Iran, and Syria. The meeting took place as U.S. diplomacy faces challenges in Asia, partly due to Trump-era tariff threats. Lavrov’s upcoming visit to North Korea also signals Moscow’s intent to strengthen new military alliances.