Lavrov and Rubio meet at UN to discuss Ukraine and bilateral ties

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met at the UN on Wednesday to discuss the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, and normalizing bilateral relations, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The ministry said the two held a "detailed exchange" on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Lavrov highlighted "coordination" between Ukraine and its European backers, and criticized Ukrainian strikes on civilians and cross-border infrastructure, which he said destabilize global energy markets. Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's commitment to its "special military operation" in Ukraine, citing the need to address what Moscow calls the invasion's "root causes." He also stressed the need to improve bilateral ties, including removing "irritants" and restoring normal diplomatic operations, such as returning Russian property in the US.