Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said he’s ready to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in person to discuss the war in Ukraine and advance bilateral ties, as reported in a Nov 9 RIA Novosti interview and confirmed by the Kyiv Independent. Lavrov emphasized the importance of regular dialogue but insisted that any end to the conflict must address Russian interests and the “root causes” of the war. The offer comes after Lavrov’s notable absence from a meeting chaired by President Putin and following the cancellation of the planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, reportedly due to Russia’s uncompromising stance on Ukraine. The Kremlin denied rumors of Lavrov being sidelined, reaffirming his role in diplomacy. Lavrov also highlighted Russia’s expectations for clarity on nuclear policies from the U.S. amid heightened tensions and ongoing military posturing.