MOSCOW — The Kremlin said on Sunday that any future summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump would require extensive preparation, emphasizing that such a meeting “cannot happen just for the sake of meeting.”

In an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin, aired by state television outlet Vesti on Telegram, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said both leaders have tasked their top diplomats — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio — with handling the groundwork.

“The process is complex. A great deal of homework truly needs to be done before the foundation for such a new summit can be laid,” Peskov said.

His remarks come after Trump said earlier this week that he canceled a planned summit with Putin in Budapest because “it didn’t feel right,” voicing frustration over stalled negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt later clarified that the meeting “is not completely off the table,” but that Washington seeks a “tangible positive outcome” before rescheduling.

Speaking en route to Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN Summit on Saturday, Trump said he would only revisit the idea of meeting Putin if there were assurances that “a deal could be reached to end the war.”

Peskov noted that referring to the Budapest meeting as “canceled” was inaccurate, as no firm date had been finalized. Putin similarly told reporters in Moscow that Trump was “most likely referring to a postponement.”

The Kremlin spokesman also reiterated Putin’s warning that Russia’s response to long-range Ukrainian strikes on its territory would be “very strong, if not overwhelming.”

Peskov added that Moscow would respond firmly to Western moves to seize frozen Russian assets and prosecute those involved, arguing that the latest US sanctions — targeting oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil — further damaged prospects for rebuilding bilateral relations.

The US Treasury Department imposed the sanctions Wednesday, citing Moscow’s “lack of serious commitment” to advancing peace talks to end the more than three-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine. — Agencies