Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Vladimir Putin in Budapest may be canceled following the sudden cancellation of a key meeting with top advisors. The summit, set to be hosted by Hungary’s far-right leader Viktor Orban, was agreed upon by the two leaders for the near future.
A meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Counterpart Sergey Lavrov to finalize details of a potential peace agreement before the summit has been reportedly called off. The Kremlin characterized a recent discussion between the two advisors as productive, focusing on implementing the agreements between Trump and Putin. However, plans for an in-person meeting appeared to have changed shortly after the call, with no immediate rescheduling provided by the White House.
This development follows a tense exchange during Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House, where Trump, influenced by Putin’s views on the conflict, allegedly demanded Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas region in exchange for peace. Zelensky’s visit aimed to secure an energy storage deal with the US in return for Ukraine’s acquisition of Tomahawk long-range missiles.
Discrepancies in expectations on resolving Russia’s invasion were reported between Rubio and Lavrov during their phone call. Sources suggest Rubio is inclined against recommending Trump’s attendance at the Budapest summit.
Key US officials believe Putin’s stance has not progressed sufficiently for meaningful discussions between the leaders to occur. Zelensky and European leaders have accused Putin of delaying diplomatic efforts to end the Ukrainian invasion and oppose any territorial concessions by Kyiv in exchange for peace.
Despite concerns, eight European leaders and top European Union officials plan to utilize Moscow’s frozen assets abroad to support Ukraine in the conflict. They underscore their commitment to the principle of not altering international borders through force.
Trump’s wavering position on Ukraine’s territorial concessions to Russia has evolved following recent conversations with Putin and Zelensky. While he previously supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Trump now advocates for halting the conflict at the current front line.
Efforts to sway Trump’s stance in favor of Ukraine and European interests continue amid ongoing diplomatic engagements. International economic sanctions on Russia are likely to be discussed at an upcoming EU summit, with further actions planned by the Coalition of the Willing in support of Ukraine’s cause.