🔗 Share this article

There are "no preparations" for American leader President Trump to meet Russia's Putin "anytime soon", a administration representative has stated.

Recently Trump indicated he and the Kremlin leader would hold talks in Hungary's capital in the coming fortnight to discuss the war in Ukraine.

A preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his opposite number Foreign Minister Lavrov was planned for this week - but the White House clarified the two had had a "productive" conversation and that a meeting was not "necessary".

The White House declined to provide additional specifics on why the talks had been postponed.

Earlier Events

The US president had raised the possibility of a Budapest summit during a call with Putin, a day before hosting Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Some reports indicated his talks with Zelensky had been a "contentious discussion", with sources suggesting the president had pressured him to relinquish extensive regions of Ukraine's east as part of a deal with Russia.

However, on Monday the American president endorsed a peace initiative supported by Kyiv and European leaders to halt the war on the existing battle lines.

"Let it be cut in its current state," he stated.

Moscow has frequently resisted against pausing the present battle positions.

The Russian government was exclusively seeking "long-term, sustainable peace", Russia's foreign minister said on Tuesday, suggesting that halting hostilities would only amount to a temporary ceasefire.

Negotiating Stances

The "fundamental issues" of the hostilities required resolution, the Russian diplomat emphasized, using Russian diplomatic language for a range of extensive requirements that involve the acceptance of total Russian authority over the eastern region as well as the military reduction of the country – a non-starter for Ukraine and its European partners.

The Ukrainian president stated conversations concerning the battle positions were the "start of negotiations" but that Russia was "doing everything" to evade negotiations.

He additionally stated the sole subject that could cause Russia to "become engaged" was that of the delivery of extended-range arms to the Ukrainian military.

Strategic Factors

Putin's spontaneous discussion with Trump recently preceded speculation that the United States was preparing to send extended-range cruise missiles to Ukraine that could possibly hit deep into Russia.

Zelensky asserted it was the missile discussion that had compelled Moscow to participate in talks. The talk about the weapons systems had proven to be a "strong investment" in international relations", he commented.