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Currently exist "no plans" for US President Donald Trump to confer with Russia's Vladimir Putin "in the immediate future", a White House official has declared.

This past week the US president indicated he and the Kremlin leader would conduct negotiations in Budapest in the coming fortnight to discuss the war in Ukraine.

A planning session between US Secretary of State Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Foreign Minister Lavrov was planned for recently - but the White House clarified the two had had a "constructive" conversation and that a face-to-face session was not "necessary".

The White House withheld additional specifics on why the talks had been delayed.

Background Context

The US president had discussed a Budapest summit during a call with Putin, a day before meeting Ukraine's President Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Various sources claimed his talks with the Ukrainian leader had been a "heated exchange", with those familiar indicating Trump had urged him to cede large areas of eastern Ukraine as part of a deal with Moscow.

Nevertheless, on Monday Trump endorsed a truce plan backed by Ukraine and European leaders to halt the war on the present positions.

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

Russia has repeatedly pushed back against freezing the present battle positions.

Moscow was solely focused on "long-term, sustainable peace", Russia's foreign minister commented on this week, indicating that freezing the front line would simply constitute a brief pause.

Diplomatic Positions

The "root causes" of the conflict needed to be addressed, the Russian diplomat stated, using Russian diplomatic language for a set of extensive requirements that include the recognition of complete Moscow control over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine – a impossible condition for Ukraine and its Western allies.

Zelensky commented conversations concerning the current lines were the "commencement of dialogue" but that Moscow was "taking all measures" to avoid diplomacy.

He additionally stated the exclusive issue that could cause Russia to "take notice" was that of the delivery of long-range weapons to the Ukrainian military.

Weapons Discussions

The Russian president's unplanned conversation with the US leader last Thursday occurred before speculation that the United States was preparing to send extended-range cruise missiles to Ukraine that could possibly hit Russian territory.

The Ukrainian leader stated it was the Tomahawks issue that had compelled Moscow to enter into dialogue. The talk about the weapons systems had emerged as a "valuable contribution" in negotiations", he remarked.