
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their meeting at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025. SPA / AFP
In a significant development marking the first high-level U.S.-Russia discussions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reconnected during a meeting in Saudi Arabia this February. The meeting has now paved the way for renewed dialogue between the two nations.
On March 15, Secretary Rubio informed Lavrov about a new U.S. military operation in Yemen targeting Houthi rebels, as reported by News.Az via KiyvPost. This call followed shortly after President Donald Trump announced “decisive, powerful” airstrikes against the Houthis in response to recent attacks on American warships and civilian ships in the Red Sea. The operation commenced early on March 16, striking Houthi-linked targets in Yemen.
During their conversation, the two officials also discussed next steps following their recent high-level meetings in Saudi Arabia. Both expressed their commitment to restoring communication channels between the United States and Russia, even as Moscow has yet to issue any public remarks regarding the call.
Adding further complexity to the regional dynamics, Rubio had returned to Saudi Arabia a month later to lead discussions with Ukrainian representatives. Despite tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv has agreed in principle to a U.S.-brokered 30-day unconditional ceasefire, contingent on Moscow halting its attacks in eastern Ukraine.
This renewed dialogue between Rubio and Lavrov signals a potential shift in the current geopolitical climate, as both nations appear cautiously open to re-establishing direct lines of communication amid ongoing regional conflicts.
About The Author
Discover more from Faith & Freedom News - FFN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.