Arrangements for Putin-Trump Meeting Delayed Days Following Hungarian Capital Negotiations Proposed

Trump and Putin
Trump and Putin previously convened in late summer in Alaska and the US president had stated additional discussions would take place in Budapest

There are "no preparations" for US President President Trump to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "anytime soon", a White House official has announced.

Recently Trump stated he and the Kremlin leader would conduct negotiations in Hungary's capital in the coming fortnight to address the ongoing hostilities.

A initial discussion between America's top diplomat Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Lavrov was scheduled to occur this week - but the White House clarified the two had had a "constructive" discussion and that a face-to-face session was not "necessary".

The administration did not share further information on why the talks had been postponed.

Previous Developments

Trump had raised the possibility of a Hungarian meeting during a call with the Russian leader, a day before meeting Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.

Various sources suggested his meeting with the Ukrainian leader had been a "contentious discussion", with sources claiming the president had pushed him to cede significant territories of eastern Ukraine as part of a deal with Russia.

Nevertheless, on this week Trump embraced a truce plan endorsed by Ukraine and EU officials to halt the conflict on the current front line.

"Leave it as is where it stands," he stated.

Russia has frequently resisted against freezing the existing front lines.

Moscow was only interested in "permanent resolution", Russia's foreign minister stated on this week, implying that freezing the front line would merely represent a temporary ceasefire.

Political Perspectives

The "fundamental issues" of the conflict required resolution, the Russian diplomat said, using Kremlin shorthand for a range of extensive requirements that involve the acknowledgment of total Russian authority over the Donbas as well as the disarmament of Ukraine – a impossible condition for Kyiv and its EU supporters.

Zelensky commented conversations concerning the front line were the "beginning of diplomacy" but that Moscow was "employing all tactics" to evade negotiations.

He additionally stated the sole subject that could cause Russia to "become engaged" was that of the delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine.

Military Considerations

Putin's unplanned conversation with the US leader last Thursday occurred before rumors that the United States was preparing to send extended-range cruise missiles to Ukrainian forces that could theoretically target inside Russia.

The Ukrainian leader asserted it was the weapons consideration that had compelled Moscow to engage in discussion. The discussion regarding the weapons systems had turned out to be a "strong investment" in negotiations", he added.

John Newton
John Newton

A film critic with over a decade of experience, specializing in indie cinema and international film festivals.