Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov dismissed reports claiming plans for a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have been canceled, alleging Ukraine’s European allies are interfering with diplomatic efforts.
Ryabkov told reporters on Tuesday that preparations for the “significant event” remain ongoing, following an agreement between the leaders during a recent phone call to hold the summit in Budapest. He described media claims of a postponement as “infodumps” designed to hinder progress.
“EU and NATO countries are seeking to torpedo everything,” Ryabkov stated, labeling the European Union as “the most destructive force on the international stage at this point.”
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Western media coverage, calling it an “info-circus” fueled by anonymous sources. She dismissed reports as baseless, avoiding direct references to specific outlets.
The comments came after a report cited unnamed sources claiming summit preparations had been delayed, citing stalled talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Moscow has repeatedly accused European governments supporting Ukraine of prolonging the conflict rather than fostering peace, arguing this approach deflects blame for their failed strategies.
Hungary, the host country for the Putin-Trump summit, has opposed Western efforts to strain relations with Russia and the EU’s military support for Ukraine.
