According to reports, the much-anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest has been paused following diplomatic discussions between Washington and Moscow.
Plans for a high-profile summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest have reportedly been put on hold. According to officials cited by multiple outlets, the pause follows a series of diplomatic exchanges that revealed ongoing disagreements between the two sides.
Reasons Behind the Delay
- A U.S. official confirmed that the hold came after a phone call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which no major progress was achieved.
- The Kremlin spokesperson clarified that the summit was never formally scheduled, saying, “You cannot postpone what was not fixed,” and emphasised the need for “serious preparation.”
- European leaders, particularly in Kyiv and Brussels, expressed relief over the delay, fearing any rushed meeting could result in pressure on Ukraine to accept disadvantageous cease-fire terms.
Implications for the Ukraine Conflict
The postponement further complicates international efforts to resolve the Ukraine war. The proposed Budapest summit was initially viewed as a potential platform for breakthrough peace talks, but its current suspension reflects the enduring gap between Washington’s and Moscow’s objectives.
Experts note that the U.S. administration remains cautious about holding talks without a clear framework, while Russia appears focused on leveraging the optics of the meeting to project diplomatic legitimacy.
Final Take
While both Washington and Moscow claim the summit could still happen in the future, officials admit there’s little movement toward setting a new date. Until key issues—like territorial control, cease-fire conditions and Ukraine’s sovereignty—are addressed, the Trump–Putin Budapest summit will remain on indefinite hold.
