Arrangements for Trump-Putin Meeting Delayed Days Following Budapest Negotiations Proposed

Trump and Putin
Trump and Putin last met in late summer in the northern US state and the American leader had said additional talks would occur in the Hungarian capital

There are "no preparations" for US President Donald Trump to confer with Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has declared.

This past week Trump indicated he and the Kremlin leader would meet 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 planned for this week - but the administration stated the two had had a "positive" discussion and that a meeting was no longer "required".

The White House did not share further information on the reason the negotiations had been postponed.

Earlier Events

The US president had raised the possibility of a Budapest summit during a call with Putin, a just prior to hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.

Various sources claimed his talks with Zelensky had been a "contentious discussion", with sources indicating the president had urged him to relinquish large areas of eastern Ukraine as part of a agreement with Russia.

Yet, on this week the American president endorsed a truce plan backed by Ukraine and European leaders to halt the hostilities on the current front line.

"Freeze the lines the way it is," he remarked.

Russia has consistently objected against freezing the present battle positions.

The Russian government was solely focused on "enduring stability", Lavrov stated on this week, implying that halting hostilities would simply constitute a temporary ceasefire.

Political Perspectives

The "root causes" of the hostilities needed to be addressed, the Russian diplomat said, using Moscow's terminology for a set of extensive requirements that encompass the recognition of complete Moscow control over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of the country – a non-starter for Ukraine and its Western allies.

Zelensky commented discussions about the current lines were the "start of negotiations" but that Moscow was "doing everything" to avoid diplomacy.

He additionally stated the only topic that could make Moscow "take notice" was that of the supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine.

Military Considerations

Putin's unscheduled call with Trump recently preceded reports that the United States was planning to provide extended-range cruise missiles to Ukraine that could possibly hit Russian territory.

Zelensky stated it was the missile discussion that had pressured the Kremlin to engage in discussion. The talk about the weapons systems had proven to be a "strong investment" in international relations", he added.

Jonathan Nelson
Jonathan Nelson

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in SEO and content marketing, passionate about data-driven growth.