US and Russian Top Diplomats Meet in Manila, Acknowledge No Quick Ukraine Peace Deal
US and Russian foreign ministers met in Manila, acknowledging no quick path to peace while Russia continued missile and drone strikes across Ukraine.
The day on the war
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks on Thursday, July 23, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Rubio stated that the Trump administration is prepared to help end the "senseless war" but conceded that there is no rapid path to a resolution, emphasizing that sustained diplomatic effort and "new ideas" would be necessary.
He described previous US-mediated discussions as "unsuccessful or at least unfruitful" but reaffirmed President Trump's commitment to engagement if circumstances allowed. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Lavrov, during the meeting, stressed "the unacceptability of further arming" Ukraine. This high-level diplomatic engagement occurred as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, seeking to "reinvigorate diplomacy." The discussions took place amidst continued military activity, including Russian missile and drone attacks and ongoing front-line pressure.
Along the front
Donetsk Region, Belitskoye
Development: Russia claimed to have secured full control of the settlement.
Source: Russian Ministry of Defense
Donetsk Region, Kostiantynivka
Development: Russia likely controls over half of the contested city.
Source: Analysis
Various Front Lines
Development: Ukrainian General Staff reported repelling Russian attacks across multiple directions in 261 clashes over the past 24 hours.
Source: Ukrainian General Staff
Strikes & the grid
| Location | What | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine-wide | Russia attacked with five Kh-59/69 air-launched missiles and 180 drones overnight (July 23-24). | Ukrainian air defenses downed four missiles and 160 drones, but strikes were recorded at nine locations. |
| Dnipropetrovsk Oblast | A Russian attack using KAB guided aerial bombs targeted a food processing company. | 3 people killed and 28 injured, including a 2-year-old girl. |
| Odesa | Russian forces conducted group strikes on Ukrainian port facilities. | Targeted infrastructure used for military cargo and fuel storage. |
| Zaporizhzhia | Russian strike. | At least 25 injured, including six children. |
Diplomacy & talks
Ukraine-Russia Prisoner Exchange. A prisoner of war swap on July 23 saw each side exchange 185 service personnel. This was the second exchange under an agreement to swap 1,000 prisoners each as part of a May ceasefire.
Ukraine-US Bilateral. President Zelenskyy held discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aiming to "reinvigorate diplomacy" for peace.
Aid & sanctions
European Union
Measure: 21st package of sanctions against Russia
Detail: Targets energy, financial services, and crypto, and freezes the Russian crude oil price cap at $44 per barrel for 12 months.
European Union
Measure: Export restrictions
Detail: Added 51 new entities to the list subject to tighter export restrictions on dual-use goods, including some in China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and the UAE, for supporting Russia's military.
United States
Measure: Proposed legislation (SABER Act)
Detail: A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill on June 18 to allow frozen Russian assets (estimated $4-5 billion) to be used for purchasing military equipment for Ukraine.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- The US House of Representatives passed a bill for new aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia in June, which now awaits approval from the Senate and the President.
- Observers will be watching for potential shifts in Ukraine's military strategy following the recent replacement of its Defense Minister and Commander-in-Chief.
- Diplomatic efforts are expected to continue, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicating a need for "new ideas" to achieve a peace deal.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.