Plans for Trump-Putin Meeting Shelved Days Following Hungarian Capital Talks Announced
Currently exist "no plans" for American leader President Trump to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has declared.
Last Thursday the US president said he and the Kremlin leader would conduct negotiations in Hungary's capital in the coming fortnight to discuss the Ukraine conflict.
A planning session between US Secretary of State Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Sergei Lavrov was due to be held this week - but the White House stated the two had had a "positive" call and that a face-to-face session was no longer "required".
The White House declined to provide further information on the reason the negotiations had been postponed.
Previous Developments
Trump had raised the possibility of a Hungarian meeting during a call with Putin, 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 indicating Trump had pushed him to give up extensive regions of Ukraine's east as part of a settlement with Moscow.
However, on this week Trump embraced a ceasefire proposal supported by Ukraine and EU officials to freeze the war on the present positions.
"Let it be cut in its current state," he stated.
Russia has frequently resisted against freezing the present battle positions.
Moscow was only interested in "long-term, sustainable peace", Lavrov stated on Tuesday, implying that halting hostilities would simply constitute a temporary ceasefire.
Diplomatic Positions
The "root causes" of the hostilities needed to be addressed, the Russian diplomat stated, using Russian diplomatic language for a set of extensive requirements that involve the recognition of total Russian authority over the eastern region as well as the military reduction of Ukraine – a impossible condition for Ukraine and its European partners.
Zelensky stated talks regarding the current lines were the "beginning of diplomacy" but that Russia was "taking all measures" to avoid diplomacy.
He additionally stated the exclusive issue that could cause Russia to "take notice" was that of the supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine.
Military Considerations
The Russian president's spontaneous discussion with the US leader recently came ahead of reports that the US was considering delivering extended-range cruise missiles to Ukrainian forces that could possibly hit deep into Russia.
Zelensky asserted it was the missile discussion that had compelled Moscow to engage in discussion. The discussion regarding the missiles had emerged as a "strong investment" in negotiations", he added.