Donald Trump said he did not want a “wasted meeting” after plans for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine were suspended. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, the US president said Moscow’s refusal to halt fighting along the current front line remained the biggest obstacle to progress.
White House pauses plans for Budapest summit
A White House official confirmed there were “no plans” for a Trump-Putin meeting “in the immediate future.” The comment came just days after Trump had said both leaders would meet in Budapest within two weeks.
Growing differences between Washington and Moscow over peace terms became clear this week, crushing hopes for a breakthrough summit. Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August during an urgently arranged meeting that produced no tangible results.
The decision to delay a second meeting seemed intended to avoid another failed encounter. “The Russians wanted too much, and it became clear there would be no deal for Trump in Budapest,” a senior European diplomat told Reuters.
Phone diplomacy replaces in-person talks
A planned meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was called off this week. The White House said both officials had a “productive” phone conversation instead, which made a face-to-face meeting unnecessary.
On Monday, Trump endorsed a ceasefire proposal backed by Kyiv and European leaders to freeze the conflict along the current battle line. “Let it be cut the way it is,” Trump said. “Cut and stop at the battle line. Go home. Stop fighting, stop killing people.”
Moscow rejects front line freeze
Russia has firmly opposed any attempt to freeze the current line of contact. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the idea had been raised several times but that “Russia’s position remains consistent.” Moscow continues to demand a full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern regions.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said Moscow wanted a “long-term, sustainable peace,” arguing that freezing the front line would only bring a temporary ceasefire. He added that the “root causes of the conflict” must be addressed, referring to demands such as recognition of Russian control over the Donbas and Ukraine’s demilitarisation. Kyiv and European partners dismiss those terms as unacceptable.
Europe and Ukraine urge diplomatic progress
European leaders joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday in a joint statement urging that peace talks start with freezing the current front line. They accused Russia of not being “serious” about peace.
Zelensky described discussions over the front line as “the beginning of diplomacy” and said Moscow was doing everything possible to avoid them. He argued that only one issue could make Russia “pay attention” — the continued supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine.
Tense talks and growing pressure
Trump had discussed a possible Budapest summit with Putin by phone one day before meeting Zelensky at the White House. Reports described that conversation as tense, with sources saying Trump urged Zelensky to surrender parts of the Donbas as part of a potential peace deal with Russia.
Zelensky has repeatedly refused to give up any territory still under Ukrainian control, warning that Moscow could use such areas to launch new attacks.
Putin’s surprise call with Trump last Thursday came amid reports that Washington was preparing to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. These weapons could reach deep into Russian territory.
Zelensky said the missile issue had forced Moscow to engage in dialogue. Despite leaving Washington without concrete results, he called the Tomahawk discussions a “strong investment in diplomacy.”
