Kremlin says timing of Putin-Trump meeting not set yet

MOSCOW -- A date for the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump has not been set, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"The date, in fact, has not been set. It remains to be determined, but thorough preparation is necessary before then, and this takes time," Peskov told reporters.

Asked if there was anything specific that complicated the process of preparations for the summit, which is expected to be held in Budapest, Hungary, Peskov said that "there is still no news," adding that the summit is surrounded by many "rumors and gossip."

Peskov added that there are currently no plans for another phone call between Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, with whom Putin had a phone conversation on Friday.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by TASS on Wednesday as saying that preparations for the summit are ongoing.

Trump said on Thursday that he will meet with Putin in Budapest for talks, following a phone conversation between the two leaders. On Tuesday, however, he told reporters at the White House that such a meeting would be "a waste of time."