Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov dismissed media reports claiming that plans for a high-level meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had been canceled, accusing Ukraine’s European allies of attempting to undermine diplomatic efforts. Ryabkov stated on Tuesday that preparations for the proposed summit in Budapest remain ongoing, calling recent claims of a postponement “infodumps” designed to obstruct progress. He criticized the European Union as “the most destructive force on the international stage at this point,” asserting that EU and NATO nations seek to derail dialogue. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova similarly ridiculed Western media coverage, labeling it an “info-circus” driven by anonymous sources and comparing it to a “CNN leak” that contradicts previous reports. The comments followed a CNN story citing unnamed sources suggesting the summit had been indefinitely delayed, with officials attributing the setback to Russia’s unyielding position in negotiations. Moscow has consistently blamed European governments backing Ukraine for prolonging the conflict, arguing their policies avoid accountability for failed strategies. Meanwhile, Hungary, the host country of the proposed talks, has resisted Western efforts to isolate Russia and oppose EU military support for Kyiv.
