By John Helmer, Moscow
  @bears_with

The real reason – that’s to say, the White House election campaign reason – for Marco Rubio’s request to meet Sergei Lavrov in Manila for thirty minutes last week was this.

Click to view or listen to the new podcast with Martin Sieff and Pelle Neroth Taylor, Capitals Uncovered Episode 138.

Ten hours later, President Donald Trump added to the Rubio ultimatum for the Kremlin: “President Xi, at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not, under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. Considering our relationship, I take him at his word and, besides, l am doing him very big favors, also. Likewise, President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine (The relationship remains, as it does with President Zelenskyy), told me that he would not sell Weapons to Iran. He understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries. They pay full price, and how those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea. Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating. If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

For details of the Rubio-Lavrov meeting and its meaning in President Putin’s decision-making, click to read this.

by Editor - Sunday, July 26th, 2026