Preparations for Putin-Trump Talks Delayed Shortly After Budapest Negotiations Proposed
There are "no arrangements" for US President Donald Trump to confer with Russia's Putin "anytime soon", a administration representative has stated.
Recently Trump indicated he and the Kremlin leader would meet in Hungary's capital within two weeks to discuss the Ukraine conflict.
A initial discussion between America's top diplomat Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Foreign Minister Lavrov was planned for recently - but the administration clarified the two had had a "productive" call and that a face-to-face session was not "required".
The White House did not share additional specifics on the reason the negotiations had been postponed.
Earlier Events
Trump had discussed a Hungarian meeting over the phone with the Russian leader, a day before meeting Ukraine's President Zelensky in the Oval Office.
Certain accounts indicated his meeting with Zelensky had been a "contentious discussion", with those familiar indicating the president had pressured him to give up large areas of eastern Ukraine as part of a settlement with Moscow.
Yet, on Monday Trump embraced a peace initiative backed by Ukraine and European leaders to freeze the conflict on the existing battle lines.
"Let it be cut in its current state," he said.
Russia has repeatedly pushed back against freezing the present battle positions.
Moscow was solely focused on "enduring stability", Russia's foreign minister stated on this week, suggesting that freezing the front line would simply constitute a short-term truce.
Negotiating Stances
The "fundamental issues" of the conflict demanded attention, Lavrov stated, using Moscow's terminology for a range of comprehensive conditions that encompass the recognition of complete Moscow control over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine – a unacceptable proposition for Kyiv and its European partners.
Zelensky commented discussions about the front line were the "start of negotiations" but that Russia was "taking all measures" to evade negotiations.
He also said the sole subject that could cause Russia to "take notice" was that of the provision of long-range weapons to the Ukrainian military.
Strategic Factors
Putin's unplanned conversation with Trump last Thursday came ahead of rumors that the United States was preparing to send distance-capable weapons to Ukraine that could potentially strike inside Russia.
The Ukrainian leader said it was the weapons consideration that had pressured the Kremlin to engage in discussion. The talk about the missiles had turned out to be a "significant input" in negotiations", he commented.