🔗 Share this article

Currently exist "no plans" for US President Donald Trump to confer with Russia's Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has announced.

Recently the US president stated he and the Russian president would hold talks in Hungary's capital within two weeks to address the Ukraine conflict.

A planning session between US Secretary of State Secretary Rubio and his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Lavrov was scheduled to occur recently - but the administration clarified the two had had a "constructive" conversation and that a meeting was not "required".

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

Background Context

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

Some reports suggested his meeting with the Ukrainian leader had been a "shouting match", with insiders claiming the president had urged him to give up significant territories of Ukraine's east as part of a agreement with Russia.

Nevertheless, on this week the American president endorsed a peace initiative supported by Kyiv and EU officials to freeze the conflict on the existing battle lines.

"Freeze the lines in its current state," he remarked.

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

Moscow was exclusively seeking "enduring stability", Russia's foreign minister said on this week, indicating that pausing conflict would merely represent a temporary ceasefire.

Negotiating Stances

The "underlying reasons" of the conflict demanded attention, the Russian diplomat said, using Kremlin shorthand for a set of extensive requirements that involve the recognition of total Russian authority over the Donbas as well as the military reduction of the country – a non-starter for Kyiv and its Western allies.

The Ukrainian president stated conversations concerning the front line were the "beginning of diplomacy" but that Russia was "doing everything" to prevent dialogue.

He further commented the sole subject that could cause Russia to "become engaged" was that of the provision of extended-range arms to Ukraine.

Weapons Discussions

Putin's unscheduled call with Trump last Thursday occurred before rumors that the United States was planning to provide distance-capable weapons to Ukraine that could potentially strike Russian territory.

The Ukrainian leader stated it was the weapons consideration that had forced Russia to enter into dialogue. The conversation concerning the missiles had turned out to be a "valuable contribution" in international relations", he commented.