**No Meeting in Sight: Kremlin Says Putin-Trump Summit Not Possible Until US Resolves Diplomatic Issues**
The possibility of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump is looking increasingly unlikely, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. In an interview with Russia’s state-controlled newspaper Izvestia on June 19, Peskov stated that the two leaders cannot meet until “necessary homework” has been done to resolve outstanding issues in their bilateral relations.
The comment comes as tensions between Russia and the US remain high, particularly over Moscow’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. While Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of meeting Putin, saying that a face-to-face conversation is necessary to resolve the conflict, the two leaders have not met since January this year.
Despite Trump’s more amicable tone towards Russia compared to his predecessor Joe Biden, he has taken a more critical stance towards Moscow recently, particularly over its continued rejection of a truce in Ukraine. Peskov’s remarks suggest that progress on these issues remains minimal and key obstacles remain in place.
**Talks Stalled: US Cancels Next Round of Talks with Russia**
Peskov’s comments follow news that the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that Washington had canceled the next round of talks to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries. The meetings, which were expected to take place in Moscow, aimed to address ongoing disputes, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, and improve the functioning of each side’s diplomatic missions.
The planned round was intended to “eliminate irritants” such as staffing restrictions and banking issues for embassies. However, it remains unclear what prompted the US to cancel the talks.
**Background: Previous Rounds of Talks**
The last two rounds of discussions took place in Riyadh in February and Istanbul in April. Both sides described the Istanbul round as “constructive,” although it focused largely on technical matters.
Despite these previous efforts, tensions between Russia and the US remain high, with President Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly urging Washington to take a firmer stance against Moscow’s continued refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
**US Fails to Introduce New Sanctions Against Russia**
The Trump administration has so far refrained from introducing new sanctions against Russia, despite pressure from Kyiv and growing alarm in Europe over Moscow’s actions. President Zelensky has warned that “America’s silence… only encourages Putin.”
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