Trump-Putin meeting in question: Rubio-Lavrov talks postponed, CNN

an unnamed White House official told CNN that a preliminary meeting between US Secretary of State Mark Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov scheduled for this week has been postponed indefinitely for unknown reasons. Another source said the meeting was postponed because Lavrov and Rubio have different expectations about the likely end of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to a transcript of the Oct. 20 phone conversation between Rubio and Lavrov released by the U. S.

State Department, government officials discussed "next steps" toward a possible end to the war in Ukraine, and Rubio "stressed the importance of the upcoming meetings as an opportunity for Moscow and Washington to work together to advance a long-term settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian war in line with President Trump's vision.

" In turn, the Kremlin called the conversation a "constructive discussion" and noted that it discussed "possible concrete steps to implement the agreements" that the US and Russian presidents reached during the conversation on October 16. According to a source familiar with the matter, after the conversation between Rubio and Lavrov, officials felt that Russia had not moved far enough from its maximalist position.

The insider said Rubio is unlikely to recommend a meeting between Putin and Trump next week, but he may speak with Lavrov again in the coming days. During a phone call on October 16, Trump said he would meet with Putin in Budapest. Before that, according to him, negotiations of high-level advisers should take place with the participation of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said on October 17 that Hungary is ready to meet Putin.