The planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest has been scrapped, according to multiple reports. A White House official stated Tuesday that no immediate plans exist for an in-person encounter, following a discussion between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The official noted the call was “productive,” eliminating the need for further face-to-face talks between Rubio and Lavrov, as well as Trump’s potential meeting with Putin.
Russia’s stance on the Ukraine conflict remains unchanged, with Moscow insisting that a peace agreement must precede any ceasefire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated this position during a press conference in Moscow, stating that Russia’s demands have not shifted since talks between Putin and Trump in Alaska. Lavrov dismissed media reports of the Budapest summit’s postponement, emphasizing that Russia’s approach to the war remains “within the bounds of its initial maximalist demands.”
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy recently traveled to Washington to seek U.S. support for Tomahawk cruise missiles and other military aid. While the Trump administration declined to provide long-range Tomahawks, Zelenskiy described his meeting with White House officials as “positive” and expressed hope of joining a future encounter between Trump and Putin.
Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war along current battle lines, denying reports that he demanded Ukrainian surrender of the Donbas region. Earlier this month, he softened his stance, acknowledging Ukraine could reclaim its occupied territories but stopping short of committing to such a outcome. “They could still win it,” Trump said, adding, “Anything can happen in war.”
