Arrangements for Trump-Putin Summit Delayed Shortly Following Hungarian Capital Talks Suggested

Trump and Putin
Trump and Putin last met in August in the northern US state and the US president had indicated additional talks would take place in Budapest

There are "no arrangements" for US President Donald Trump to meet Russia's Putin "anytime soon", a White House official has stated.

Recently Trump stated he and the Kremlin leader would hold talks in Hungary's capital within two weeks to address the Ukraine conflict.

A initial discussion between US Secretary of State Secretary Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was scheduled to occur this week - but the administration stated the two had had a "constructive" discussion and that a face-to-face session was not "needed".

The administration withheld any more details on the reason the negotiations had been postponed.

Previous Developments

Trump had raised the possibility of a Hungarian meeting during a call with the Russian leader, a just prior to meeting Ukraine's President Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Some reports suggested his meeting with the Ukrainian leader had been a "shouting match", with insiders claiming Trump had pressured him to relinquish significant territories of eastern Ukraine as part of a deal with Russia.

Yet, on Monday Trump supported a truce plan endorsed by Ukraine and EU officials to pause the hostilities on the current front line.

"Freeze the lines where it stands," he remarked.

Moscow has frequently resisted against halting the present battle positions.

The Russian government was exclusively seeking "enduring stability", Lavrov commented on this week, suggesting that freezing the front line would merely represent a short-term truce.

Political Perspectives

The "root causes" of the hostilities required resolution, Lavrov stated, using Russian diplomatic language for a set of maximalist demands that include the recognition of complete Moscow control over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of the country – a impossible condition for Ukraine and its EU supporters.

The Ukrainian president commented conversations concerning the front line were the "beginning of diplomacy" but that Moscow was "taking all measures" to avoid diplomacy.

He also said the only topic that could make Moscow "pay attention" was that of the supply of distance-capable munitions to Ukraine.

Military Considerations

The Russian president's unscheduled call with Trump last Thursday occurred before speculation that the US was preparing to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukrainian forces that could potentially strike deep into Russia.

The Ukrainian leader asserted it was the weapons consideration that had forced Russia to participate in talks. The discussion regarding the missiles had emerged as a "valuable contribution" in international relations", he added.

Connor Chapman
Connor Chapman

A passionate gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering slot machines and casino trends across the UK.