Arrangements for Putin-Trump Meeting Delayed Shortly Following Budapest Talks Announced

Trump and Putin
Putin and Trump previously convened in August in the northern US state and the American leader had stated further talks would take place in the Hungarian capital

Currently exist "no plans" for American leader Donald Trump to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin "anytime soon", a White House official has announced.

This past week Trump stated he and the Kremlin leader would meet in Hungary's capital soon to address the ongoing hostilities.

A preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Sergei Lavrov was planned for recently - but the administration clarified the two had had a "positive" call and that a face-to-face session was no longer "needed".

The administration withheld any more details on why the talks had been delayed.

Earlier Events

Trump had raised the possibility of a Budapest summit over the phone with Putin, a just prior to hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Certain accounts indicated his meeting with the Ukrainian leader had been a "heated exchange", with those familiar indicating the president had pressured him to give up significant territories of eastern Ukraine as part of a agreement with Moscow.

Yet, on Monday Trump endorsed a truce plan backed by Ukraine and EU officials to pause the conflict on the existing battle lines.

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

Russia has frequently resisted against freezing the existing front lines.

The Russian government was only interested in "permanent resolution", Russia's foreign minister said on Tuesday, indicating that halting hostilities would simply constitute a short-term truce.

Diplomatic Positions

The "underlying reasons" of the hostilities needed to be addressed, Lavrov said, using Moscow's terminology for a range of comprehensive conditions that involve the acknowledgment of total Russian authority over the eastern region as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine – a impossible condition for Ukraine and its Western allies.

The Ukrainian president said discussions about the battle positions were the "commencement of dialogue" but that Moscow was "employing all tactics" to evade negotiations.

He further commented the sole subject that could cause Russia to "pay attention" was that of the supply of extended-range arms to Ukraine.

Weapons Discussions

Putin's unplanned conversation with the US leader recently occurred before speculation that the United States was planning to provide extended-range cruise missiles to Ukrainian forces that could possibly hit inside Russia.

The Ukrainian leader said it was the weapons consideration that had compelled Moscow to engage in discussion. The talk about the missiles had proven to be a "valuable contribution" in negotiations", he added.

Johnny Castillo
Johnny Castillo

A passionate automotive historian and restoration expert with over 15 years of experience in preserving classic cars.