Putin-Trump summit date not set, Kremlin cites need for serious preparation

Kremlin: No Date Fixed for Putin-Trump Meeting, Preparations Underway

The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet been scheduled, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that "no specific dates have been mentioned" and there is currently no agreement on the timing. He described the process as requiring significant and difficult work, underscoring a businesslike approach from Moscow despite the lack of a fixed calendar for the high-profile meeting in the international arena.

Dismissal of Postponement Claims

Peskov directly addressed media reports suggesting the meeting was postponed, clarifying that a postponement was impossible because a concrete date was never officially established in the first place. "You've heard statements from both American officials and ours indicating that this might take some time. Therefore, precise timelines were never established initially," he told reporters in the Russian capital. This aligns with the complex nature of organizing diplomacy at the highest level between the two powers.

Wider Geopolitical Context

The spokesman also touched upon broader European security issues, commenting on statements from the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), who claimed European NATO members are preparing for a potential war with Russia. Peskov supported this view, stating that Europeans are neither advocates of peace nor are they contributing to peace-building efforts. He added that ongoing NATO military exercises over the North Sea are consistently and carefully analyzed by the Russian military for their scenarios and intentions.

Ukraine Peace Process and EU Role

When questioned about the potential participation of European Union countries in the anticipated Russia-US summit, Peskov stated it was premature for such discussions. He also declined to publicize any proposals Moscow has prepared related to a Russia-Ukraine peace process, emphasizing that voicing them publicly in a "megaphone" fashion would be counterproductive. He described the process as discreet and stated it must serve the interests of the process itself and its effectiveness, a common stance in sensitive diplomatic negotiations.