Preparations for Trump-Putin Talks Postponed Shortly After Hungarian Capital Negotiations Proposed

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

Currently exist "no preparations" for US President President Trump to confer with Russian President Vladimir Putin "anytime soon", a administration representative has declared.

Last Thursday Trump indicated he and the Kremlin leader would meet in Hungary's capital soon to address the Ukraine conflict.

A planning session between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his opposite number Foreign Minister Lavrov was scheduled to occur this week - but the White House stated the two had had a "positive" discussion and that a meeting was no longer "needed".

The administration withheld further information on why the talks had been put on hold.

Previous Developments

Trump had discussed a Budapest summit via telephone with the Russian leader, a day before meeting Ukrainian President President Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Some reports indicated his meeting with Zelensky had been a "heated exchange", with those familiar indicating the president had urged him to give up extensive regions of eastern Ukraine as part of a agreement with Russia.

However, on this week Trump endorsed a truce plan supported by Ukraine and European leaders to freeze the hostilities on the present positions.

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

Russia has consistently objected against freezing the current line of contact.

Moscow was only interested in "enduring stability", Russia's foreign minister stated on this week, indicating that freezing the front line would only amount to a temporary ceasefire.

Diplomatic Positions

The "underlying reasons" of the conflict needed to be addressed, the Russian diplomat stated, using Moscow's terminology for a set of extensive requirements that encompass the acknowledgment of full Russian sovereignty over the Donbas as well as the disarmament of the country – a impossible condition for Ukraine and its EU supporters.

The Ukrainian president stated talks regarding the battle positions were the "beginning of diplomacy" but that Russia was "taking all measures" to prevent dialogue.

He additionally stated the only topic that could cause Russia to "take notice" was that of the delivery of distance-capable munitions to the Ukrainian military.

Military Considerations

Putin's unscheduled call with the US leader recently came ahead of rumors that the United States was planning to provide distance-capable weapons to Ukrainian forces that could potentially strike Russian territory.

Zelensky said it was the weapons consideration that had compelled Moscow to participate in talks. The conversation concerning the missiles had proven to be a "valuable contribution" in diplomacy", he remarked.

Karen Caldwell
Karen Caldwell

Renewable energy consultant and green tech writer with over a decade of experience in sustainable development projects across Europe.