Preparations for Trump-Putin Meeting Shelved Shortly After Budapest Talks Announced

There are "no plans" for US President President Trump to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has announced.

Last Thursday Trump indicated he and the Russian president would meet in Hungary's capital within two weeks to discuss the Ukraine conflict.

A preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his opposite number Foreign Minister Lavrov was planned for this week - but the administration clarified the two had had a "positive" call and that a meeting was no longer "necessary".

The White House declined to provide additional specifics on the reason the negotiations had been delayed.

Earlier Events

Trump had discussed a Hungarian meeting via telephone with the Russian leader, a day before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.

Various sources claimed his meeting with the Ukrainian leader had been a "shouting match", with sources indicating Trump had pushed him to cede significant territories of Ukraine's east as part of a settlement with Russia.

However, on Monday Trump supported a peace initiative backed by Ukraine and EU officials to halt the hostilities on the existing battle lines.

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

Moscow has consistently objected against freezing the present battle positions.

Moscow was exclusively seeking "permanent resolution", Lavrov commented on this week, implying that pausing conflict would simply constitute a short-term truce.

Political Perspectives

The "root causes" of the hostilities needed to be addressed, the Russian diplomat emphasized, using Russian diplomatic language for a set of comprehensive conditions that include the recognition of complete Moscow control over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine – a non-starter for Ukraine and its European partners.

Zelensky stated conversations concerning the current lines were the "commencement of dialogue" but that Russia was "doing everything" to prevent dialogue.

He also said the sole subject that could cause Russia to "become engaged" was that of the delivery of distance-capable munitions to the Ukrainian military.

Military Considerations

The Russian president's unscheduled call with the US leader recently preceded rumors that the United States was preparing to send distance-capable weapons to Ukraine that could possibly hit inside Russia.

The Ukrainian leader stated it was the Tomahawks issue that had compelled Moscow to participate in talks. The discussion regarding the weapons systems had proven to be a "strong investment" in negotiations", he remarked.