Are Preparations for a Trump-Putin Summit Ongoing?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ongoing preparations for a Trump-Putin summit.
- Uncertainty surrounding the date of the meeting.
- Dialogue remains crucial in addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Both leaders are seeking a breakthrough in negotiations.
- Hungary plays a significant role in the diplomatic process.
Budapest, Oct 23 (NationPress) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has confirmed that efforts to arrange a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are still in progress.
"The arrangements for the peace summit are ongoing. While the date remains unclear, we will make it happen when the moment is appropriate," Orban stated in a Facebook update on Wednesday.
Discussions for a potential meeting in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, were temporarily stalled following a recent phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which was described as "constructive but inconclusive," according to reports from US media.
After speaking with Putin last week, Trump indicated his willingness to meet the Russian leader soon in pursuit of a breakthrough to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, as reported by Xinhua.
However, the US President expressed on Tuesday that his anticipated meeting with Putin had been postponed as he did not want to "waste" the opportunity.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned that the timing for a potential summit is still up in the air, highlighting that "serious preparation" is essential before any meeting can occur.
Despite the postponement, Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's special envoy for investment and economic collaboration, noted on his X account late Tuesday that "preparations continue" for a future summit, affirming that the meeting has not been cancelled.
The delay follows Trump's recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, where he dismissed the idea of a trilateral summit with Russia and Ukraine due to the heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.
Trump and Putin previously met in Alaska in August, but no agreements were reached, and ceasefire talks remain stagnant.
On October 16, Trump initiated a renewed effort to resolve the "inglorious" Russia-Ukraine conflict, announcing his intent to meet with Putin.
Trump shared on Truth Social, "I believe significant progress was made during today’s phone conversation."
He plans to discuss his conversation with Putin with Zelensky.
Kremlin spokesperson Peskov confirmed the details of the dialogue.