Plans for Putin-Trump Summit Delayed Shortly Following Budapest Negotiations Suggested
Currently exist "no preparations" for US President Donald Trump to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin "anytime soon", a administration representative has stated.
Recently Trump indicated he and the Kremlin leader would conduct negotiations in Hungary's capital soon to examine the Ukraine conflict.
A preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Sergei Lavrov was due to be held recently - but the White House clarified the two had had a "positive" call and that a meeting was not "necessary".
The White House declined to provide any more details on the reason the negotiations had been delayed.
Earlier Events
The US president had discussed a Hungarian meeting via telephone with Putin, a just prior to hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
Some reports indicated his talks with Zelensky had been a "contentious discussion", with sources claiming Trump had pushed him to give up significant territories of eastern Ukraine as part of a settlement with Moscow.
Nevertheless, on Monday Trump supported a peace initiative supported by Kyiv and European leaders to freeze the hostilities on the present positions.
"Leave it as is the way it is," he stated.
Moscow has consistently objected against halting the present battle positions.
The Russian government was solely focused on "long-term, sustainable peace", Lavrov commented on Tuesday, suggesting that freezing the front line would merely represent a brief pause.
Political Perspectives
The "underlying reasons" of the conflict demanded attention, the Russian diplomat said, using Russian diplomatic language for a range of comprehensive conditions that include the recognition of full Russian sovereignty over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine – a non-starter for Kyiv and its EU supporters.
Zelensky commented talks regarding the current lines were the "start of negotiations" but that Moscow was "taking all measures" to avoid diplomacy.
He further commented the sole subject that could make Moscow "become engaged" was that of the supply of extended-range arms to Ukraine.
Military Considerations
Putin's unscheduled call with Trump last Thursday preceded rumors that the US was preparing to send distance-capable weapons to Ukraine that could potentially strike Russian territory.
Zelensky asserted it was the weapons consideration that had forced Russia to participate in talks. The talk about the weapons systems had proven to be a "significant input" in international relations", he commented.