Plans for Putin-Trump Talks Delayed Shortly Following Hungarian Capital Talks Suggested
Currently exist "no preparations" for American leader Donald Trump to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has announced.
Last Thursday Trump stated he and the Russian president would meet in Hungary's capital within two weeks to discuss the ongoing hostilities.
A preparatory meeting between America's top diplomat Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was scheduled to occur this week - but the White House said the two had had a "constructive" discussion and that a meeting was not "necessary".
The White House withheld any more details on why the talks had been put on hold.
Earlier Events
Trump had discussed a Hungarian meeting via telephone with Putin, a just prior to hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
Some reports suggested his meeting with Zelensky had been a "heated exchange", with those familiar suggesting Trump had pressured him to give up extensive regions of eastern Ukraine as part of a settlement with Russia.
However, on Monday Trump embraced a truce plan supported by Ukraine and European leaders to halt the conflict on the present positions.
"Freeze the lines where it stands," he said.
Russia has repeatedly pushed back against halting the current line of contact.
Moscow was only interested in "permanent resolution", Russia's foreign minister commented on this week, implying that freezing the front line would only amount to a brief pause.
Negotiating Stances
The "fundamental issues" of the conflict demanded attention, Lavrov said, using Kremlin shorthand for a set of extensive requirements that involve the recognition of full Russian sovereignty over the Donbas as well as the military reduction of Ukraine – a non-starter for Kyiv and its Western allies.
Zelensky said conversations concerning the current lines were the "commencement of dialogue" but that Russia was "doing everything" to prevent dialogue.
He further commented the exclusive issue that could cause Russia to "take notice" was that of the provision of distance-capable munitions to the Ukrainian military.
Weapons Discussions
The Russian president's unscheduled call with Trump last Thursday occurred before reports that the United States was considering delivering extended-range cruise missiles to Ukraine that could potentially strike deep into Russia.
Zelensky asserted it was the missile discussion that had forced Russia to engage in discussion. The discussion regarding the weapons systems had turned out to be a "strong investment" in diplomacy", he remarked.