New York:US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss the prospects for a Ukrainian settlement and various bilateral issues.

According to Anadolu Agency, the meeting, which lasted approximately 50 minutes, occurred behind closed doors without any opening statements to the media. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the talks included a detailed exchange on a wide range of bilateral and international matters.

The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized discussions on the Ukrainian conflict, highlighting the coordination between Kyiv and its European sponsors and criticizing Kyiv's actions that target civilians and infrastructure. Lavrov reiterated Russia's willingness to resolve the conflict through political and diplomatic means by addressing its root causes.

In addition to Ukraine, the diplomats discussed international and regional issues, including developments in the Middle East, the South Caucasus, and Latin America. They also addressed concerns about illegitimate practices by certain multilateral institutions and preparations for upcoming G20 events.

The Russian side stressed the importance of improving bilateral relations based on agreements between the US and Russian presidents, urging an honest dialogue to remove diplomatic "irritants" and restore normal diplomatic relations. This includes the return of Russian property in the US.

Both parties agreed to continue discussions on these topics through their respective foreign policy agencies. The US State Department confirmed that the Ukraine conflict and bilateral relations were central to the agenda during the Lavrov-Rubio meeting. The diplomats last met in July during ASEAN-related meetings in Manila.