Plans for Putin-Trump Meeting Delayed Shortly Following Budapest Talks Proposed
There are "no preparations" for US President President Trump to meet Russian President Putin "anytime soon", a White House official has stated.
Last Thursday Trump indicated he and the Russian president would hold talks in Budapest within two weeks to address the Ukraine conflict.
A initial discussion between America's top diplomat Secretary Rubio and his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Lavrov was due to be held recently - but the White House stated the two had had a "productive" call and that a face-to-face session was no longer "necessary".
The White House declined to provide any more details on the reason the negotiations had been postponed.
Previous Developments
Trump had discussed a Budapest summit during a call with the Russian leader, a just prior to meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.
Certain accounts claimed his talks with the Ukrainian leader had been a "contentious discussion", with sources claiming Trump had pushed him to give up significant territories of Ukraine's east as part of a agreement with Moscow.
However, on Monday the American president endorsed a peace initiative backed by Ukraine and European leaders to pause the hostilities on the present positions.
"Freeze the lines where it stands," he said.
Moscow has repeatedly pushed back against halting the current line of contact.
The Russian government was exclusively seeking "permanent resolution", Lavrov said on Tuesday, implying that pausing conflict would only amount to a brief pause.
Negotiating Stances
The "underlying reasons" of the conflict required resolution, Lavrov emphasized, using Kremlin shorthand for a series of extensive requirements that encompass the recognition of complete Moscow control over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine – a non-starter for Ukraine and its EU supporters.
Zelensky commented conversations concerning the current lines were the "commencement of dialogue" but that Russia was "taking all measures" to avoid diplomacy.
He additionally stated the exclusive issue that could cause Russia to "pay attention" was that of the delivery of distance-capable munitions to Ukraine.
Military Considerations
Putin's unscheduled call with Trump recently came ahead of speculation that the United States was planning to provide distance-capable weapons to Ukrainian forces that could possibly hit Russian territory.
Zelensky stated it was the missile discussion that had compelled Moscow to engage in discussion. The discussion regarding the missiles had turned out to be a "strong investment" in diplomacy", he commented.