Malaysia is optimistic it can reach a deal with the US to lower tariffs ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline for trade talks after President Donald Trump threatened to impose a steeper levy on the Southeast Asian country,

The Rubio-Lavrov meeting is happening against the backdrop of Washington resuming arms shipments to Ukraine, which was not well-received by Russia. Trump has increasingly become critical of his Russian counterpart Putin,

Malaysia's central bank cut interest rates for the first time in five years on Wednesday, as global trade uncertainties threaten the export-oriented economy, raising the prospect it may lower borrowing costs again this year to shield the economy.