Ankara: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Thursday on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting in Manila, the Philippines.

According to Anadolu Agency, Rubio and Lavrov appeared before the media ahead of the talks. Rubio was joined by US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor, State Department Counselor Dan Holler, and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. Meanwhile, Lavrov was accompanied by Russian Ambassador to ASEAN Evgeny Zagaynov, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, and Russian Foreign Ministry Foreign Policy Planning Department Director Alexey Drobinin.

During the media session, reporters asked Rubio if he planned to address the allegations that Russia assisted Iran in targeting US troops in the Middle East. Lavrov was questioned about when Moscow would cease its attacks on Ukraine. Neither official answered these questions, as a staff member quickly escorted the reporters from the room.