Preparations for Putin-Trump Meeting Postponed Shortly Following Hungarian Capital Talks Announced

Trump and Putin
Putin and Trump last met in August in Alaska and the US president had stated further discussions would occur in Budapest

There are "no plans" for US President President Trump to meet Russia's Putin "in the near term", a White House official has declared.

Recently the US president stated he and the Kremlin leader would hold talks in Budapest in the coming fortnight to examine the ongoing hostilities.

A initial discussion between America's top diplomat Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Sergei Lavrov was scheduled to occur this week - but the administration said the two had had a "positive" conversation and that a face-to-face session was not "required".

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

Earlier Events

The US president had discussed a Budapest summit via telephone with Putin, a day before hosting Ukrainian President President Zelensky in the White House.

Certain accounts claimed his meeting with the Ukrainian leader had been a "heated exchange", with those familiar indicating Trump had urged him to give up extensive regions of Ukraine's east as part of a settlement with Russia.

Yet, on this week Trump embraced a truce plan endorsed by Ukraine and EU officials to pause the hostilities on the existing battle lines.

"Freeze the lines the way it is," 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 stated on Tuesday, suggesting that halting hostilities would only amount to a temporary ceasefire.

Diplomatic Positions

The "underlying reasons" of the war needed to be addressed, Lavrov said, using Kremlin shorthand for a range of extensive requirements that involve the acceptance of total Russian authority over the eastern region as well as the disarmament of the country – a non-starter for Kyiv and its European partners.

Zelensky stated discussions about the current lines were the "start of negotiations" but that Russia was "employing all tactics" to evade negotiations.

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

Strategic Factors

Putin's unscheduled call with Trump last Thursday came ahead of reports that the US was planning to provide distance-capable weapons to Ukrainian forces that could theoretically target Russian territory.

The Ukrainian leader asserted it was the Tomahawks issue that had compelled Moscow to engage in discussion. The conversation concerning the missiles had proven to be a "strong investment" in international relations", he remarked.

Veronica Grant
Veronica Grant

A cultural anthropologist and travel writer specializing in Nordic regions, with a passion for documenting local traditions and modern innovations.