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Currently exist "no arrangements" for US President Donald Trump to confer with Russian President Putin "in the near term", a White House official has announced.

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

A planning session between America's top diplomat Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Sergei Lavrov was scheduled to occur recently - but the White House stated the two had had a "productive" discussion and that a face-to-face session was no longer "necessary".

The White House did not share additional specifics on why the talks had been postponed.

Background Context

Trump had discussed a Budapest summit over the phone with Putin, a just prior to meeting Ukraine's President Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Various sources claimed his meeting with Zelensky had been a "contentious discussion", with insiders suggesting Trump had pressured him to cede large areas of eastern Ukraine as part of a settlement with Russia.

Nevertheless, on Monday the American president supported a ceasefire proposal backed by Ukraine and EU officials to pause the hostilities on the existing battle lines.

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

Moscow has consistently objected against pausing the existing front lines.

Moscow was only interested in "permanent resolution", Lavrov stated on Tuesday, implying that halting hostilities would simply constitute a short-term truce.

Political Perspectives

The "fundamental issues" of the war needed to be addressed, Lavrov stated, using Russian diplomatic language for a range of extensive requirements that encompass the acceptance of total Russian authority over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of the country – a unacceptable proposition for Kyiv and its EU supporters.

Zelensky stated conversations concerning the current lines were the "start of negotiations" but that Russia was "employing all tactics" to avoid diplomacy.

He additionally stated the exclusive issue that could make Moscow "become engaged" was that of the delivery of extended-range arms to Ukraine.

Military Considerations

The Russian president's unplanned conversation with Trump last Thursday preceded rumors that the US was planning to provide extended-range cruise missiles to Ukraine that could potentially strike deep into Russia.

Zelensky said it was the missile discussion that had compelled Moscow to enter into dialogue. The talk about the weapons systems had turned out to be a "significant input" in international relations", he commented.