Kremlin is in no rush for a leaders' summit as U.S., allies talk security guarantees

United States and NATO officials were set to meet Wednesday to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as the White House worked to arrange a summit between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

LONDON — The Kremlin signaled Wednesday it was in no rush to agree to a leaders’ summit with Ukraine and warned the West that talks over security guarantees for Kyiv were a “road to nowhere” without its involvement.

Moscow’s latest intervention came as the White House pressed ahead with arrangements for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while U.S. and NATO officials discussed how to ensure Ukraine’s protection as part of an eventual peace deal with Russia.

The White House was actively looking to secure a meeting location and date, a senior administration official said Tuesday, adding that the Hungarian capital, Budapest, and the Swiss city of Geneva were among the sites discussed.

But the Kremlin appeared in no hurry for the pair to sit down together.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Putin had suggested continuing negotiations in his call with President Donald Trump on Monday and that Russia was ready to consider “raising the level of the heads of delegations.”