Putin and Zelenskyy have ‘no assembly deliberate,’ Russia’s Lavrov says

Russian overseas minister Sergey Lavrov threw chilly water on the opportunity of an imminent assembly happening between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that no assembly is at present deliberate.

“Putin is able to meet with Zelenskyy, when the agenda can be prepared for a summit,” Lavrov mentioned throughout an interview with NBC Information’ “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday.

“And this agenda isn’t prepared in any respect,” he continued.

Lavrov’s feedback come after President Donald Trump prompt earlier this month that the leaders of the 2 international locations had agreed to satisfy, which might mark a breakthrough within the ongoing warfare.

“I known as President Putin, and started the preparations for a gathering, at a location to be decided, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump wrote on his Reality Social on Aug. 18, after he met individually with the 2 leaders.

Trump met in Alaska with Putin, after which subsequently hosted Zelenskyy on the White Home, alongside a number of European leaders.

However within the days since Trump’s conferences with the 2 leaders, Russia has continued to launch missile strikes on Ukraine, together with one which hit an electronics manufacturing facility owned by a U.S.-based firm.

The continued assaults — and Lavrov’s feedback — have raised questions on Trump’s capability to dealer a peace deal between the 2 international locations.

The White Home didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for touch upon Lavrov’s remarks.

Vice President JD Vance in a separate interview on NBC Information, nonetheless, expressed optimism that “energetic diplomacy” will “carry this warfare to a detailed.”

“We will ultimately achieve success, or we’ll hit a brick wall,” Vance informed NBC Information’ “Meet the Press.”

“And if we hit a brick wall, then we’ll proceed this strategy of negotiation, of making use of leverage,” he mentioned.