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There are "no preparations" for US President President Trump to confer with Russia's Vladimir Putin "in the near term", a administration representative has declared.

Last Thursday Trump said he and the Russian president would hold talks in Budapest within two weeks to discuss the war in Ukraine.

A preparatory meeting between America's top diplomat Secretary Rubio and his opposite number Foreign Minister Lavrov was planned for this week - but the White House clarified the two had had a "productive" call and that a face-to-face session was not "necessary".

The White House withheld additional specifics on the reason the negotiations had been put on hold.

Previous Developments

The US president had raised the possibility of a Budapest summit over the phone with the Russian leader, a day before meeting Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.

Some reports claimed his talks with the Ukrainian leader had been a "contentious discussion", with insiders claiming the president had urged him to cede large areas of eastern Ukraine as part of a agreement with Russia.

Nevertheless, on this week the American president endorsed a peace initiative supported by Ukraine and European leaders to pause the conflict on the present positions.

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

Russia has consistently objected against halting the existing front lines.

Moscow was exclusively seeking "long-term, sustainable peace", Russia's foreign minister stated on this week, implying that pausing conflict would merely represent a temporary ceasefire.

Negotiating Stances

The "fundamental issues" of the conflict demanded attention, the Russian diplomat said, using Russian diplomatic language for a set of extensive requirements that encompass the acknowledgment of complete Moscow control over the eastern region as well as the disarmament of Ukraine – a non-starter for Ukraine and its European partners.

Zelensky commented talks regarding the front line were the "beginning of diplomacy" but that Moscow was "doing everything" to prevent dialogue.

He further commented the sole subject that could cause Russia to "pay attention" was that of the delivery of distance-capable munitions to the Ukrainian military.

Strategic Factors

The Russian president's spontaneous discussion with the US leader last Thursday preceded reports that the United States was considering delivering long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukrainian forces that could theoretically target Russian territory.

The Ukrainian leader said it was the missile discussion that had forced Russia to participate in talks. The talk about the missiles had emerged as a "strong investment" in international relations", he added.