The White House has confirmed that there are ‘no plans’ for US President Donald Trump to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘in the immediate future,’ despite earlier indications of a potential summit in Budapest. Last Thursday, Trump had suggested that he and Putin would hold talks within two weeks to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, a preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, initially scheduled for this week, was canceled after the two officials reportedly had a ‘productive’ phone conversation, rendering the in-person meeting ‘unnecessary.’ The White House has not provided further details on the reasons for the delay. Meanwhile, Trump has expressed support for freezing the Ukrainian conflict along the current front line, particularly in the contested Donbas region. ‘Let it be cut the way it is,’ he stated on Monday. However, Russia has consistently opposed this approach, with Lavrov emphasizing on Tuesday that Moscow is only interested in ‘long-term, sustainable peace,’ suggesting that a freeze would merely result in a temporary ceasefire. This developing story is being updated, and further details are expected shortly.