US President Donald Trump canceled his planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, stating he believed the talks would not achieve desired outcomes at this stage. The decision came during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, where Trump claimed the summit “did not feel right.” He added, “It did not feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get, so I canceled it,” without specifying when or where future discussions might occur.
Trump’s remarks followed new US sanctions on Russia, targeting Rosneft and Lukoil, which the Treasury Department linked to Moscow’s lack of commitment to a peace process. However, Trump expressed uncertainty about whether the measures would alter Russia’s stance on the Ukraine conflict, noting, “Hopefully he [Putin] will become reasonable, and hopefully [Ukraine’s Vladimir] Zelensky will be reasonable too.” This statement reflects criticism of Zelenskiy’s decisions and his leadership.
Plans for the summit emerged after Trump and Putin spoke by phone last week, though no date was set. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the need for “serious preparations” before any meeting, stating such talks should not be “wasted.”
Trump Cancels Putin Summit Amid Tensions, Warns of Future Talks
