Arrangements for Trump-Putin Talks Delayed Shortly After Budapest Negotiations Proposed

There are "no plans" for American leader President Trump to meet Russia's Putin "in the near term", a White House official has declared.

Recently Trump indicated he and the Kremlin leader would meet in Budapest in the coming fortnight to examine the Ukraine conflict.

A planning session between US Secretary of State Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Foreign Minister Lavrov was planned for recently - but the administration stated the two had had a "productive" conversation and that a face-to-face session was no longer "needed".

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

Background Context

Trump had raised the possibility of a Budapest summit over the phone with the Russian leader, a just prior to hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.

Certain accounts suggested his talks with the Ukrainian leader had been a "contentious discussion", with insiders indicating Trump had pressured him to cede large areas of Ukraine's east as part of a settlement with Moscow.

Nevertheless, on this week Trump endorsed a truce plan backed by Kyiv and EU officials to halt the war on the present positions.

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

Russia has frequently resisted against freezing the current line of contact.

The Russian government was only interested in "enduring stability", Lavrov stated on this week, suggesting that halting hostilities would simply constitute a short-term truce.

Negotiating Stances

The "fundamental issues" of the conflict needed to be addressed, the Russian diplomat stated, using Moscow's terminology for a range of extensive requirements that involve the acceptance of complete Moscow control over the eastern region as well as the military reduction of the country – a impossible condition for Kyiv and its EU supporters.

Zelensky said conversations concerning the front line were the "start of negotiations" but that Russia was "taking all measures" to prevent dialogue.

He additionally stated the exclusive issue that could cause Russia to "become engaged" was that of the supply of long-range weapons to the Ukrainian military.

Strategic Factors

Putin's unscheduled call with Trump last Thursday came ahead of speculation that the United States was preparing to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukrainian forces that could possibly hit deep into Russia.

The Ukrainian leader stated it was the Tomahawks issue that had compelled Moscow to engage in discussion. The conversation concerning the weapons systems had proven to be a "valuable contribution" in international relations", he remarked.