Rubio: US, Russia Exchanged Peace Ideas07/11 06:09

   

   KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said 
Thursday that the U.S. and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace 
talks after he met with his Russian counterpart in Malaysia Thursday.

   "I think it's a new and a different approach," Rubio told reporters after 
talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "I wouldn't characterize it 
as something that guarantees a peace, but it's a concept that, you know, that 
I'll take back to the president." He didn't elaborate.

   Rubio added that President Donald Trump has been "disappointed and 
frustrated that there's not been more flexibility on the Russian side" to bring 
about an end to the conflict.

   "We need to see a roadmap moving forward about how this conflict can 
conclude. And then we shared some ideas about what that might look like," he 
said of the 50-minute meeting. "We're going to continue to stay involved where 
we see opportunities to make a difference."

   In a statement released shortly after Thursday's meeting, Russia's Foreign 
Ministry said that "substantive and frank exchange of views" had taken place on 
issues including Ukraine, Iran, Syria, and other global problems.

   "Both countries reaffirmed their mutual commitment to finding peaceful 
solutions to conflicts, restoring Russian-American economic and humanitarian 
cooperation, and unimpeded contact between the societies of the two countries, 
something which could be facilitated by resuming direct air traffic," the 
statement said. "The importance of further work to normalize bilateral 
diplomatic relations was also emphasized."

   The two men held talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the annual 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which brings together 10 
ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners including Russia, 
China, Japan, South Korea, European nations and the U.S.

   The meeting was their second encounter since Rubio took office, although 
they have spoken by phone several times. Their first meeting took place in 
February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration sought to test 
Russia and Ukraine on their willingness to make peace.

   Thursday's meeting occurred shortly after the U.S. resumed some shipments of 
defensive weapons to Ukraine following a pause, ostensibly for the Pentagon to 
review domestic munitions stocks, that was cheered in Moscow.

   The resumption comes as Russia fires escalating air attacks on Ukraine and 
as Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir 
Putin.

   US diplomatic push could be overshadowed by tariff threats

   Rubio was also seeing other foreign ministers, including many whose 
countries face tariffs set to be imposed Aug. 1.

   "These letters that are going out in these trade changes are happening with 
every country in the world," Rubio told reporters. "Anywhere in the world I 
would have traveled this week they got a letter."

   Rubio sought to assuage concerns as he held group talks with ASEAN foreign 
ministers.

   "The Indo Pacific, the region, remains a focal point of U.S. foreign 
policy," he told them. "When I hear in the news that perhaps the United States 
or the world might be distracted by events in other parts of the planet, I 
would say distraction is impossible, because it is our strong view and the 
reality that this century and the story of next 50 years will largely be 
written here in this region."

   "These are relationships and partnerships that we intend to continue to 
build on without seeking the approval or the permission of any other actor in 
the region of the world," Rubio said in an apparent reference to China.

   Trump notified several countries on Monday and Wednesday that they will face 
higher tariffs if they don't make trade deals with the U.S. Among them are 
eight of ASEAN's 10 members.

   U.S. State Department officials said tariffs and trade won't be Rubio's 
focus during the meetings, which Trump's Republican administration hopes will 
prioritize maritime safety and security in the South China Sea, where China has 
become increasingly aggressive toward its small neighbors, as well as combating 
transnational crime.

   But Rubio may be hard-pressed to avoid the tariff issue that has vexed some 
of Washington's closest allies and partners in Asia, including Japan and South 
Korea and most members of ASEAN, which Trump says would face 25% tariffs if 
there is no deal.

   Rubio met earlier Thurday with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who 
has warned global trade is being weaponized to coerce weaker nations. Anwar 
urged the bloc Wednesday to strengthen regional trade and reduce reliance on 
external powers.

   Rubio's "talking points on the China threat will not resonate with officials 
whose industries are being battered by 30-40% tariffs," said Danny Russel, vice 
president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former assistant secretary 
of state for East Asia and the Pacific during the Obama administration.

   When Anwar said "ASEAN will approach challenges 'as a united bloc' he wasn't 
talking about Chinese coercion but about U.S. tariffs," Russel noted.

   Majority of ASEAN members face major tariff hikes

   Among ASEAN states, Trump has announced tariffs on almost all of the bloc's 
10 members.

   Trump sent tariff letters to two more ASEAN members Wednesday: Brunei, whose 
imports would be taxed at 25%, and the Philippines at 20%. Others hit this week 
include Cambodia at 36%, Indonesia at 32%, Laos at 40%, Malaysia at 25%, 
Myanmar at 40% and Thailand at 36%.

   Vietnam recently agreed to a trade deal for a 20% tariffs on its imports, 
while Singapore still faces a 10% tariff that was imposed in April. The Trump 
administration has courted most Southeast Asian nations in a bid to blunt or at 
least temper China's push to dominate the region.

   In Kuala Lumpur, Rubio also will likely come face-to-face with China's 
foreign minister during his visit.

   Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is a veteran of such gatherings and "fluent 
in ASEAN principles and conventions," while Rubio "is a rookie trying to sell 
an 'America First' message to a deeply skeptical audience," Russel noted.

   Issues with China remain substantial, including trade, human rights, 
militarization of the South China Sea and China's support for Russia in Ukraine.

   U.S. officials continue to accuse China of resupplying and revamping 
Russia's military industrial sector, allowing it to produce additional weapons 
that can be used to attack Ukraine.

   Earlier on Thursday, Rubio signed a memorandum on civilian nuclear energy 
with Malaysia's foreign minister, which will pave the way for negotiations on a 
more formal nuclear cooperation deal, known as a 123 agreement after the 
section of U.S. law allowing such programs.

   Those agreements allow the U.S. government and U.S. companies to work with 
and invest in civilian energy nuclear programs in other countries under strict 
supervision.