Arrangements for Trump-Putin Talks Shelved Days Following Budapest Talks Proposed

Currently exist "no arrangements" for US President President Trump to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has declared.

Recently the US president indicated he and the Russian president would meet in Hungary's capital within two weeks to examine the war in Ukraine.

A planning session between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his opposite number Sergei Lavrov was due to be held recently - but the administration said the two had had a "constructive" conversation and that a meeting was no longer "required".

The administration did not share further information on the reason the negotiations had been postponed.

Previous Developments

The US president had raised the possibility of a Hungarian meeting over the phone with the Russian leader, a day before hosting Ukrainian President President Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Various sources claimed his talks with the Ukrainian leader had been a "heated exchange", with insiders indicating Trump had pressured him to cede significant territories of eastern Ukraine as part of a settlement with Russia.

Nevertheless, on Monday Trump embraced a truce plan backed by Ukraine and EU officials to halt the conflict on the present positions.

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

Russia has frequently resisted against freezing the present battle positions.

Moscow was exclusively seeking "long-term, sustainable peace", Lavrov said on Tuesday, suggesting that halting hostilities would only amount to a temporary ceasefire.

Diplomatic Positions

The "fundamental issues" of the hostilities demanded attention, the Russian diplomat said, using Kremlin shorthand for a range of extensive requirements that involve the acceptance of full Russian sovereignty over the eastern region as well as the disarmament of Ukraine – a unacceptable proposition for Kyiv and its Western allies.

Zelensky stated conversations concerning the front line were the "commencement of dialogue" but that Russia was "employing all tactics" to evade negotiations.

He further commented the exclusive issue that could make Moscow "become engaged" was that of the provision of long-range weapons to the Ukrainian military.

Strategic Factors

Putin's unplanned conversation with Trump recently preceded reports that the United States was considering delivering long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine that could possibly hit deep into Russia.

The Ukrainian leader asserted it was the weapons consideration that had forced Russia to engage in discussion. The conversation concerning the weapons systems had proven to be a "strong investment" in international relations", he added.