Plans for Putin-Trump Talks Postponed Days After Budapest Negotiations Announced

Trump and Putin
Putin and Trump previously convened in August in Alaska and the US president had indicated additional discussions would take place in Budapest

Currently exist "no plans" for American leader President Trump to confer with Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the near term", a White House official has stated.

Recently Trump said he and the Kremlin leader would conduct negotiations in Hungary's capital soon to discuss the ongoing hostilities.

A planning session between America's top diplomat Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Foreign Minister Lavrov was due to be held this week - but the administration clarified the two had had a "positive" discussion and that a face-to-face session was not "required".

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

Background Context

Trump had discussed a Budapest summit via telephone with the Russian leader, a day before hosting Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Certain accounts suggested his talks with Zelensky had been a "heated exchange", with those familiar suggesting Trump had pressured him to cede large areas of Ukraine's east as part of a settlement with Russia.

Nevertheless, on Monday Trump endorsed a peace initiative endorsed by Ukraine and European leaders to pause the hostilities on the current front line.

"Let it be cut where it stands," he stated.

Russia has repeatedly pushed back against pausing the existing front lines.

Moscow was solely focused on "long-term, sustainable peace", Russia's foreign minister said on Tuesday, suggesting that halting hostilities would merely represent a temporary ceasefire.

Diplomatic Positions

The "underlying reasons" of the conflict required resolution, Lavrov stated, using Russian diplomatic language for a series of extensive requirements that include the recognition of total Russian authority over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine – a impossible condition for Kyiv and its EU supporters.

The Ukrainian president commented discussions about the current lines were the "commencement of dialogue" but that Moscow was "taking all measures" to evade negotiations.

He also said the sole subject that could cause Russia to "pay attention" was that of the supply of distance-capable munitions to the Ukrainian military.

Military Considerations

The Russian president's unscheduled call with the US leader last Thursday occurred before reports that the US was planning to provide distance-capable weapons to Ukraine that could theoretically target deep into Russia.

Zelensky asserted it was the Tomahawks issue that had compelled Moscow to enter into dialogue. The discussion regarding the weapons systems had turned out to be a "valuable contribution" in international relations", he commented.

Lisa Cook
Lisa Cook

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