ANKARA

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday spoke to his Thai and Cambodian counterparts and urged the two sides to de-escalate tensions "immediately" and agree to a ceasefire over an ongoing border dispute, the State Department said in a statement.

Rubio, in telephone calls with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Thailand's top diplomat Maris Sangiampongsa, said the US is prepared to facilitate future discussions in order to ensure peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia.

He reiterated US President Donald Trump’s desire for peace and the importance of an immediate ceasefire.

It comes a day after Trump on Saturday spoke with the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand, calling on them to begin ceasefire negotiations, which he said they agreed to.

In a related development, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced that the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers will meet in Malaysia on Monday after accepting Kuala Lumpur's mediation to resolve their lingering border conflict.

The talks in Malaysia come after Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the regional ASEAN forum, proposed a ceasefire on Friday.

Thailand reported 20 deaths, including six soldiers, while Cambodia said 13 of its citizens, including five soldiers, were killed since the latest escalation began on Thursday.

The Southeast Asian neighbors have a border dispute along Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand's northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, with renewed tensions since May 28, when a Cambodian soldier was killed.