Plans for a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest have been delayed after being suggested as a step towards resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Trump stated that he has postponed the meeting to avoid it being unproductive. The proposed summit, initially announced by Trump, was set to occur in Budapest soon but was put on hold following discussions between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who also canceled their preparatory meeting.
Trump mentioned that updates on the administration’s next actions regarding Ukraine will be provided in the next two days as significant developments are occurring in the conflict. While Trump had expressed readiness for a constructive meeting with Putin, proposing a peace framework based on current battle lines, this idea raised concerns among European allies and Kyiv, fearing it could reward Moscow by solidifying Russian territorial gains.
The White House confirmed that there are currently “no plans” for an immediate Trump-Putin summit, stating that recent diplomatic efforts failed to make progress towards a ceasefire. The Kremlin also indicated a lack of urgency in resuming the meeting, emphasizing the need for thorough preparation before a presidential summit can be arranged.
During a recent conversation between Trump and Putin, Moscow reportedly offered to relinquish parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces currently under Russian control in exchange for full control of Donetsk, a significant industrial and military region coveted by the Kremlin. However, Kyiv opposes any territorial concessions, viewing Donetsk as a crucial gateway to central Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration over Russia’s diminishing interest in meaningful peace talks following Trump’s reluctance to approve the supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv. Zelenskyy and Trump’s meeting in Washington was reportedly tense, with Trump suggesting the idea of Ukraine accepting limited territorial concessions.
In a meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump cautioned that Putin had threatened to “destroy” Ukraine if it refused. Trump’s rejection of Ukraine’s request for Tomahawk missiles, capable of targeting Russian sites up to 1,000 miles away, was met with Kyiv’s firm stance on maintaining its borders intact. Ukraine believes access to these missiles could pressure Moscow to negotiate from a position of weakness by targeting Russian military-industrial complexes and oil facilities. The Kremlin, however, warned that such actions would be seen as escalatory.