Putin and Trump were scheduled to meet at the G20 summit on December 1. However, Trump abruptly cancelled the meeting on Thursday after receiving a report on the Black Sea incident between Russia and Ukraine.
"The basis of what took place with respect to the ships and the sailors that was the sole reason," Trump told reporters ahead of his the meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The US president also expressed hope that Russia and Ukraine will resolve the issue soon and he will be able to hold talks with the Russian leader.
"Hopefully they’ll be able to settle it out soon because we look forward to meeting with President Putin," Trump said.
Commenting on the issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the Russian president and his US counterpart greeted each other but did not have time to talk at the G20 summit.
"They didn't get a chance to talk," Peskov said, noting that the two leaders just greeted each other.
READ MORE: Kremlin, White House Not Sure Trump to Have Pull-Aside Talk With Putin at G20
In response to the incident, the Ukrainian authorities have introduced martial law in selected regions of Ukraine along the border with Russia as well as along the coast of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov for 30 days.
READ MORE: 'Anti-Russia Neocons' in US Office Plotted to Cancel Trump-Putin Talks — Scholar
