Russia says conditions not yet met for Putin-Trump summit

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov declared on Wednesday that conditions remain insufficient for organizing a summit between President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump. Addressing the State Duma in Moscow, Ryabkov emphasized that "any summit meeting requires in-depth preparation and careful consideration of all aspects," noting that neither sufficient preparation nor proper conditions currently exist for such high-level engagement.

Diplomatic Preparations and Outstanding Issues

Ryabkov confirmed that Russian and American foreign ministries continue preparatory work, with the immediate priority being to add specific details to the framework agreement reached by both leaders during their mid-August meeting in Alaska. Despite ongoing communication between the two nations, particularly on security matters, the Russian diplomat identified the closure of Russian diplomatic missions in 2017 and 2018 and subsequent property seizures as significant irritants in bilateral relations, demanding the "irrevocable return" of confiscated assets protected by diplomatic immunity.

Regional Security Concerns and Bilateral Relations

The deputy minister attributed current tensions with Western nations to "expansion to the east and complete disregard for Moscow's interests, primarily in the field of security." He reiterated Russia's repeated calls for Western counterparts to address security contradictions they had created in European security architecture. Ryabkov also addressed the resumption of direct flights between Russia and the US, confirming the issue remains on the agenda though no concrete progress has been achieved.

Venezuela Stance and Military Cooperation

Regarding Venezuela, Ryabkov expressed Moscow's solidarity with Caracas and criticized US actions for creating "an environment of heightened tension." He defended Venezuela's anti-drug efforts while acknowledging close military cooperation between Moscow and Caracas, noting that "all communication channels remain open" regarding potential Venezuelan requests for military assistance amid US military buildup in the Caribbean region.