Arrangements for Trump-Putin Meeting Shelved Shortly After Budapest Negotiations Suggested

Trump and Putin
Trump and Putin previously convened in late summer in the northern US state and the US president had said further discussions would occur in Budapest

There are "no preparations" for US President Donald Trump to meet Russia's Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has stated.

Recently Trump said he and the Kremlin leader would conduct negotiations in Budapest within two weeks to discuss the Ukraine conflict.

A initial discussion between America's top diplomat Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was planned for recently - but the administration clarified the two had had a "constructive" call and that a face-to-face session was not "required".

The administration did not share further information on why the talks had been delayed.

Earlier Events

Trump had raised the possibility of a Hungarian meeting over the phone with Putin, a just prior to hosting Ukraine's President Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Some reports suggested his talks with Zelensky had been a "heated exchange", with sources indicating Trump had pushed him to give up significant territories of Ukraine's east as part of a settlement with Moscow.

However, on Monday the American president embraced a truce plan supported by Ukraine and EU officials to halt the hostilities on the present positions.

"Leave it as is where it stands," he remarked.

Moscow has consistently objected against halting the existing front lines.

The Russian government was solely focused on "long-term, sustainable peace", Russia's foreign minister commented on Tuesday, suggesting that freezing the front line would only amount to a temporary ceasefire.

Political Perspectives

The "root causes" of the conflict required resolution, the Russian diplomat stated, using Russian diplomatic language for a series of extensive requirements that involve the acceptance of total Russian authority over the eastern region as well as the disarmament of Ukraine – a unacceptable proposition for Kyiv and its Western allies.

The Ukrainian president said talks regarding the battle positions were the "start of negotiations" but that Moscow was "doing everything" to avoid diplomacy.

He additionally stated the exclusive issue that could make Moscow "pay attention" was that of the provision of extended-range arms to the Ukrainian military.

Weapons Discussions

Putin's spontaneous discussion with the US leader last Thursday preceded speculation that the US was considering delivering long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine that could potentially strike inside Russia.

Zelensky asserted it was the Tomahawks issue that had forced Russia to participate in talks. The conversation concerning the weapons systems had turned out to be a "significant input" in negotiations", he commented.

Christine Smith
Christine Smith

Automotive journalist with 12 years of experience covering electric vehicles and sustainable mobility trends across Europe.