Rubio says he spoke to Lavrov about potential Trump-Putin meeting at Apec

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that he had a brief conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the G20 foreign ministers' gathering in Atlanta. The discussion centered on the potential interaction between the leaders of the two nations at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in mid-November.

However, Rubio clarified that their meeting was informal, and there was no formal meeting with Lavrov during the two-day G20 foreign ministers' talks in Atlanta, Georgia. The G20 summit, which includes the United States, Russia, China, India, France, and Germany, concluded on Saturday. The Russian Foreign Minister's presence in Atlanta had stirred tensions among European countries, as Russia faces sanctions from the West following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

European officials objected to a planned family photo of G20 ministers, featuring Lavrov, due to their strained relations with Russia. Despite the tensions, Rubio emphasized the importance of communication between the United States and Russia to avert future escalations, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Moscow's nuclear arsenal.

Rubio stated, "If we can play a role in mediating an end to that conflict, the United States is prepared to play that role."