Moscow: Any summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump requires ‘a great deal of homework,’ the Kremlin said on Sunday. In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin reported by state television Vesti on Telegram, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin and Trump cannot just ‘meet for the sake of meeting,’ and that is why they have tasked Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, respectively, with the summit’s preparations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Peskov explained that the process is complex and requires significant groundwork before establishing a foundation for a new summit. Earlier this week, Trump had mentioned canceling a forthcoming summit with Putin in Budapest, citing it “didn’t feel right” and expressing frustration over the stagnant negotiations to end the Ukraine war.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt clarified that the meeting “is not completely off the table,” emphasizing the need for a ‘tangible positive outcome.’ While traveling to Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN summit on Saturday, Trump stated he would consider rescheduling a meeting with Putin only if assured a deal could be reached to end the over three-and-a-half-year conflict.
Peskov corrected the notion of the Budapest meeting being ‘canceled,’ noting the lack of a clear agreement on a summit date. Putin, addressing reporters in Moscow on Thursday, suggested that the US president likely referred to postponing the meeting.
Additionally, Peskov reiterated Putin’s stance on Russia’s potential response to long-range Ukrainian strikes, asserting it would be ‘very strong, if not overwhelming.’ Moscow also intends to respond to attempts to seize frozen Russian assets and prosecute those involved, particularly in light of recent US sanctions impacting the prospects of reviving bilateral ties.
The US Treasury Department recently sanctioned Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, citing Moscow’s ‘lack of serious commitment’ to the peace process aimed at ending the Ukraine war.