Preparations for Putin-Trump Talks Delayed Days After Hungarian Capital Talks Suggested
Currently exist "no preparations" for US President President Trump to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the immediate future", a administration representative has declared.
Last Thursday Trump stated he and the Kremlin leader would meet in Budapest in the coming fortnight to examine the Ukraine conflict.
A preparatory meeting between America's top diplomat Secretary Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was due to be held this week - but the administration clarified the two had had a "constructive" call and that a face-to-face session was not "needed".
The White House did not share any more details on the reason the negotiations had been postponed.
Earlier Events
The US president had raised the possibility of a Hungarian meeting over the phone with the Russian leader, a just prior to hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.
Various sources suggested his talks with the Ukrainian leader had been a "contentious discussion", with insiders suggesting Trump had pressured him to cede large areas of eastern Ukraine as part of a deal with Russia.
Yet, on this week the American president embraced a peace initiative supported by Ukraine and European leaders to halt the war on the present positions.
"Let it be cut the way it is," he said.
Moscow has frequently resisted against freezing the existing front lines.
The Russian government was solely focused on "permanent resolution", Lavrov commented on this week, indicating that pausing conflict would only amount to a brief pause.
Diplomatic Positions
The "underlying reasons" of the hostilities demanded attention, the Russian diplomat emphasized, using Moscow's terminology for a range of extensive requirements that include the recognition of total Russian authority over the eastern region as well as the disarmament of the country – a impossible condition for Kyiv and its Western allies.
The Ukrainian president commented conversations concerning the front line were the "start of negotiations" but that Moscow was "employing all tactics" to evade negotiations.
He further commented the sole subject that could make Moscow "take notice" was that of the supply of extended-range arms to Ukraine.
Weapons Discussions
Putin's unplanned conversation with Trump last Thursday preceded rumors that the United States was planning to provide distance-capable weapons to Ukrainian forces that could theoretically target inside Russia.
The Ukrainian leader stated it was the Tomahawks issue that had forced Russia to engage in discussion. The discussion regarding the weapons systems had proven to be a "valuable contribution" in negotiations", he added.