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 going down 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 could be prepared for a summit,” Lavrov mentioned throughout an interview with NBC Information’ “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday.

“And this agenda will not be prepared in any respect,” he continued.

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

“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 Fact 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 unit owned by a U.S.-based firm.

The continued assaults — and Lavrov’s feedback — have raised questions on Trump’s potential 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, nevertheless, expressed optimism that “energetic diplomacy” will “convey this battle to an in depth.”

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

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