Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have explored “new” and “different” strategies to resolve the prolonged conflict in Ukraine. This development comes as President Donald Trump expresses growing frustration over the ongoing war, which has persisted for nearly three and a half years. Rubio’s remarks followed a nearly hour-long meeting with Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN conference in Malaysia. While Rubio refrained from detailing the specifics of these new strategies, he emphasized that they represent a fresh perspective that he plans to present to President Trump. However, he cautioned that these ideas do not guarantee peace but offer a potential pathway forward.

### Trump’s Frustration and Potential Sanctions President Trump is reportedly considering imposing stringent sanctions on Russia and increasing military support to Ukraine. This consideration arises amidst claims that Trump did not approve the Pentagon’s recent decision to pause arms supplies to Kyiv. Rubio conveyed to Lavrov that Trump is “disappointed and frustrated” by Russia’s lack of flexibility in seeking a legitimate resolution to the conflict.

### Communication with Putin Rubio faced questions regarding Trump’s numerous conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which have seemingly had little impact on curbing Russian aggression. Despite escalating attacks, Rubio highlighted some humanitarian exchanges as positive outcomes of these discussions. He praised Trump for engaging directly with Putin, noting that previous leaders had avoided such direct communication.

### Future Steps and Continued Involvement Rubio emphasized the need for a clear roadmap to conclude the conflict, sharing ideas with Lavrov on potential solutions. He reiterated the United States’ commitment to remaining actively involved wherever opportunities arise to influence positive change. This meeting marked Rubio’s second encounter with Lavrov since assuming his role as Secretary of State.