President Trump hoped for a quick meeting with Russian President Putin, but plans are now on hold. Reports suggest that a pre-meeting between their foreign affairs aides, expected this week, has been shelved.
After a call with Putin, Trump announced they had agreed on a meeting for their top advisors next week. He stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would lead the discussions along with other officials yet to be named.
However, the meeting between Rubio and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, has been delayed. The reasons are unclear, but sources indicate that they might have very different views on ending the war in Ukraine.
The potential fallout from this delay is uncertain, especially regarding the anticipated summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly emphasized that Trump is committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, striving to stop the violence.
On Monday, Rubio spoke with Lavrov, discussing steps following the previous dialogue between Trump and Putin. Rubio highlighted the need for collaboration to find a durable solution to the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin referred to their conversation as “constructive,” focusing on implementing previous agreements from the presidents’ calls. However, a source told CNN that officials felt Russia hadn’t shifted far enough from its tough stance. As a result, Rubio may advise against proceeding with the Trump-Putin meeting next week.
It’s been over two months since Trump’s last face-to-face summit with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. That meeting ended without a clear deal, although both leaders claimed progress was made. Recently, Trump reiterated his call for both Ukraine and Russia to immediately cease hostilities, saying, “You stop at the battle line.”
The situation remains fluid, and the international community will be watching closely to see how these developments unfold. The back-and-forth conversations reflect the ongoing complexities of international diplomacy as each side navigates their positions amid a crisis that continues to escalate.
For further insights into U.S.-Russia relations, you can refer to reports from the Council on Foreign Relations that provide an overview of the current state of diplomacy and its historical context.
