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Currently exist "no plans" for US President Donald Trump to confer with Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has stated.

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

A preparatory meeting between America's top diplomat Secretary Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was due to be held this week - but the White House clarified the two had had a "constructive" call and that a face-to-face session was not "required".

The administration declined to provide any more details on why the talks had been delayed.

Background Context

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

Certain accounts indicated his talks with Zelensky had been a "contentious discussion", with sources suggesting the president had pressured him to give up large areas of Ukraine's east as part of a agreement with Russia.

However, on this week Trump embraced a peace initiative backed by Ukraine and EU officials to halt the conflict on the present positions.

"Freeze the lines the way it is," he said.

Moscow has repeatedly pushed back against halting the existing front lines.

Moscow was exclusively seeking "permanent resolution", Russia's foreign minister said on this week, suggesting that halting hostilities would only amount to a brief pause.

Negotiating Stances

The "root causes" of the conflict demanded attention, the Russian diplomat emphasized, using Kremlin shorthand for a set of maximalist demands that encompass the recognition of complete Moscow control over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of the country – a impossible condition for Kyiv and its European partners.

The Ukrainian president stated conversations concerning the front line were the "start of negotiations" but that Russia was "doing everything" to evade negotiations.

He further commented the sole subject that could make Moscow "become engaged" was that of the provision of extended-range arms to the Ukrainian military.

Military Considerations

The Russian president's spontaneous discussion with Trump recently occurred before reports that the US was preparing to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine that could theoretically target deep into Russia.

The Ukrainian leader said it was the missile discussion that had forced Russia to enter into dialogue. The talk about the weapons systems had proven to be a "valuable contribution" in diplomacy", he commented.