Sergei Lavrov and Marco Rubio are anticipated to convene in Budapest on October 30, according to an anonymous German official speaking to the Financial Times.
The official also mentioned that Hungary’s pro-Russian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, is expected to present plans leading up to the summit, which might involve a meeting between Trump and European Union leaders. However, these plans remain unconfirmed.
On Thursday, EU leaders are expected to unite in support of Ukraine during a summit in Brussels. This will be followed by a gathering of European leaders in London on Friday, referred to as a “coalition of the willing,” to discuss further assistance for Kyiv.
The Financial Times reports that EU leaders are also looking to agree on providing 140 billion euros (approximately $162.5 billion) in loans to Ukraine from frozen Russian assets, alongside implementing new sanctions against Russia during the Brussels conference.
On Tuesday, leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed their backing for Trump’s peace initiative while reiterating their firm positions.
They collectively stated, “We maintain our commitment to the principle that international borders should not be altered through force,” a message supported by EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the heads of state from Italy, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Poland.
Macron further stated that Ukraine’s Western allies are prepared to offer security guarantees should a ceasefire be reached, but emphasized that Kyiv alone would make decisions regarding territorial negotiations.
On Tuesday, Russia indicated that there was “no specific timeline” for a summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump concerning Ukraine, dampening hopes for a quick preparatory meeting to finalize discussions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including those from AFP, at a briefing, “No specific timelines were set initially.” When queried about the possibility of postponing the summit, Peskov stated, “It’s impossible to delay something that hasn’t been firmly established. … Serious preparation is required.”
CNN reported on Tuesday, citing a White House official, that the meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been “paused for the moment.”
According to an anonymous source cited by CNN, the pre-meeting was postponed due to differing expectations between Russia and the U.S. regarding the resolution of the war in Ukraine.
The report mentioned that Rubio and Lavrov might have another conversation this week; however, it seems the U.S. diplomat is “not likely” to recommend proceeding with the Putin-Trump meeting next week.
The U.S. State Department characterized Monday’s call as a discussion of “next steps” and as an opportunity for both parties to work towards a “sustainable resolution” of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Kremlin labeled it a “constructive discussion” concerning the “implementation of the agreements” made between Trump and Putin in Alaska last August.
Ryabkov stated that Moscow is continuing its preparations for the summit, emphasizing, “We are completing our homework,” while asserting that any interaction should not be rushed.
Reporting contributed by AFP.
