Rubio meets Lavrov, denies role in Tate case, downplays tech fears

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on July 23, 2026, amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine. Rubio stated the U.S. is ready to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine, while Lavrov reportedly shared Russia's perspective on the situation. Separately, Rubio broke his silence on the Andrew Tate extradition case, denying any U.S. role in the UK legal battle. He also instructed diplomats to downplay concerns about an American technology 'kill switch.' Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that the request for the meeting came from the U.S. side.