Preparations for the proposed Russia-US summit expected to be held in Budapest, Hungary, have been put “on hold,” according to U.S. officials, who cited unnamed sources. Reports indicate that no immediate plans exist for U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet, with discussions delayed due to concerns over readiness for dialogue.
A senior official stated that while initial talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were described as “productive,” the president believes both sides are not yet prepared to engage meaningfully. The postponement follows conflicting accounts from various outlets, with some claiming preparations have been suspended “at least for now.”
Russian officials dismissed these reports as unfounded, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov asserting that arrangements for the summit remain active. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the anonymous sources, calling the claims a Western “info-circus” aimed at undermining negotiations.
The Kremlin and White House confirmed earlier this week that talks would proceed in Budapest after Putin and Trump spoke by phone last Thursday. However, no official timeline has been set for the meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that “serious preparations are needed,” emphasizing the lack of a defined schedule.
