Trump shelves Putin meeting over Ukraine ceasefire dispute
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he didn’t want a “wasted meeting” after plans for a face-to-face discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin were put on hold. The talks, which were meant to focus on the ongoing war in Ukraine, were canceled due to Russia’s refusal to halt fighting along the current front line.
A White House official confirmed that there were “no immediate plans” for a Trump-Putin summit, even though Trump had earlier announced that both leaders would meet in Budapest within two weeks.
Sources suggest that major disagreements between U.S. and Russian peace proposals were the main reason behind the cancellation. Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August, but that summit ended without any concrete results.
“The Russians wanted too much,” said a senior European diplomat, adding that the U.S. realized “there would be no deal for Trump in Budapest.”
The White House had also called off a preparatory meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, though both sides described a recent phone conversation as “productive.”
On Monday, Trump endorsed a ceasefire plan supported by Kyiv and European leaders, suggesting that the fighting should stop along the existing battle lines.
“Let it be cut the way it is. Stop fighting, stop killing people,” Trump said.
However, the Kremlin immediately rejected the idea. Russian officials reiterated that freezing the conflict would not lead to lasting peace.
> Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s position “doesn’t change,” emphasizing the need for the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern regions.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow seeks a “long-term, sustainable peace,” not just a temporary ceasefire. He added that the “root causes” of the conflict must be addressed — a reference to Russia’s demands for full sovereignty over Donbas and the demilitarization of Ukraine, conditions rejected by Kyiv and its European allies.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the Trump-Putin meeting highlights the deep rift between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine’s future. With no compromise in sight, peace talks remain on hold — and the war continues to shape global politics.
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