Lavrov-Rubio talks postponed, raising doubts over Trump-Putin summit

A planned meeting this week between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been postponed, CNN reported, citing a White House official.

The reason was not disclosed, but the two officials, who spoke by phone on Monday, had “different expectations” about ending the war in Ukraine, the report said.

The talks were meant to prepare for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest. Their delay could undermine Trump’s hopes for a swift meeting with Putin, CNN said. Another source told the channel Lavrov and Rubio could still speak again later this week.

Trump and Putin agreed in a recent phone call to hold a summit in Budapest, though no date has been set. The Kremlin said preparations for the meeting had begun.