Preparations for Putin-Trump Talks Delayed Days After Hungarian Capital Negotiations Announced

Trump and Putin
Putin and Trump previously convened in August in Alaska and the American leader had indicated additional talks would take place in the Hungarian capital

Currently exist "no arrangements" for American leader President Trump to confer with Russia's Vladimir Putin "anytime soon", a administration representative has declared.

Recently Trump indicated he and the Kremlin leader would meet in Hungary's capital within two weeks to examine the ongoing hostilities.

A preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Sergei Lavrov was due to be held this week - but the White House said the two had had a "positive" conversation and that a meeting was not "necessary".

The White House declined to provide any more details on why the talks had been delayed.

Previous Developments

The US president had discussed a Budapest summit over the phone with the Russian leader, a day before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.

Some reports suggested his meeting with the Ukrainian leader had been a "shouting match", with sources suggesting the president had urged him to relinquish extensive regions of Ukraine's east as part of a deal with Moscow.

However, on Monday Trump embraced a peace initiative backed by Kyiv and European leaders to freeze the war on the current front line.

"Let it be cut in its current state," he said.

Moscow has consistently objected against pausing the existing front lines.

Moscow was solely focused on "enduring stability", Russia's foreign minister stated on Tuesday, indicating that pausing conflict would merely represent a temporary ceasefire.

Negotiating Stances

The "root causes" of the conflict needed to be addressed, Lavrov said, using Russian diplomatic language for a range of comprehensive conditions that include the recognition of total Russian authority over the eastern region as well as the military reduction of the country – a impossible condition for Ukraine and its Western allies.

Zelensky stated discussions about the current lines were the "start of negotiations" but that Moscow was "doing everything" to avoid diplomacy.

He additionally stated the sole subject that could make Moscow "take notice" was that of the provision of long-range weapons to the Ukrainian military.

Weapons Discussions

The Russian president's unplanned conversation with Trump last Thursday occurred before speculation that the United States was considering delivering extended-range cruise missiles to Ukraine that could theoretically target deep into Russia.

The Ukrainian leader asserted it was the missile discussion that had compelled Moscow to participate in talks. The discussion regarding the weapons systems had proven to be a "valuable contribution" in negotiations", he commented.

Kristen Peck
Kristen Peck

A seasoned sports analyst with over a decade of experience in betting markets, specializing in European football leagues.