Kremlin says Putin-Trump summit may happen within two weeks, but there’s a lot to do first

MOSCOW - The Kremlin said on Oct 17 that a summit between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump could take place within two weeks, or a little later, but that there was a great deal to be worked out before a date could be set.

Mr Trump and Mr Putin agreed on Oct 16 to a hold a second summit on the war in Ukraine
, provisionally in Budapest, following an Aug 15 meeting in Alaska that failed to produce a breakthrough.

The surprise announcement came on the eve of a meeting between Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and as Washington is considering supplying Kyiv with Tomahawk cruise missiles
.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would need to call each other and set up a meeting to sort out many pre-summit issues.

“There are many questions, negotiating teams need to be determined, and so on and so forth. Therefore, everything will be done in stages, but, of course, the presidents’ will is there,” Mr Peskov said.

“It (the summit) could indeed take place within two weeks or a little later. There’s a general understanding that nothing should be put off.”

Mr Peskov said Russia remained open to a settlement to end the war in Ukraine peacefully.

Russia blames Kyiv and its European allies for the impasse in peace talks. They in turn accuse it of posing unacceptable demands and have said they do not believe that Mr Putin is serious about seeking peace.

The Kremlin said separately that Mr Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had spoken by phone on Oct 17 to discuss the upcoming summit and that Orban had said Hungary was ready to host the event. REUTERS