Trump–Putin Meeting In Budapest Put On Hold

The planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest has been put on hold indefinitely. Neither Washington nor Moscow has officially announced the cancellation. Trump earlier said he expects to meet his Russian counterpart “within two weeks or so.” However, a senior White House official stated, “There are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future.”

When asked about the delay during a news conference, Trump did not give a clear answer. Instead, he described the postponement as a move aimed at improving efficiency.

Reports suggest that Russia has conveyed to the U.S. its demand for full control over Ukraine’s Donbas region, a position that contradicts Trump’s recent comments expressing a desire to maintain current front-line positions. Russia currently controls the entire province of Luhansk and roughly 75% of neighbouring Donetsk, which together form the Donbas region.

According to CNN, a US government source said Washington is concerned that Moscow is maintaining a “maximalist stance” in its ceasefire conditions. During the August summit, Putin reiterated his commitment to ending the war but emphasised that the conflict’s “primary causes” must be addressed for any ceasefire to last.

On Tuesday, European leaders urged the U.S. to hold firm on its call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. NATO confirmed that Secretary General Mark Rutte travelled to Washington on Tuesday ahead of talks with Trump. In the Ukraine conflict, Trump’s influence remains limited. His approach has swung between pressuring Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, yet neither strategy has produced tangible results so far.