Trump Delays Second Meeting With Putin as Budapest Summit Postponed
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has played down the possibility of a second meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the planned Budapest summit was postponed amid disagreements over a Ukraine ceasefire.
During a Diwali celebration at the White House on Tuesday, Trump told reporters he would not meet Putin unless there was a clear purpose.
“I don’t want to have a wasted meeting. I don’t want to have a waste of time. So I’ll see what happens,” he said.
Push for a Ceasefire in Ukraine
Trump repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire that would freeze the battle lines in Ukraine.
“I said, ‘Go to the line, go to the battlefield lines, and pull back. Take a break because two countries are killing each other, losing five to seven thousand soldiers a week,’” he explained.
Talks Between Washington and Moscow
Earlier in the day, a White House official confirmed that plans for the second Trump–Putin summit were on hold. The decision followed a phone conversation between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which the official described as “productive.”
On October 16, Trump had announced plans to meet Putin in Budapest within two weeks after a phone call with the Russian leader. Lavrov and Rubio were expected to meet this week to finalize the arrangements, but that discussion was also canceled.
Disagreement Over Ceasefire Terms
The reason for the postponement remains unclear, but Russian officials have opposed Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire that maintains the current frontlines in Ukraine. Moscow claims the condition goes against earlier understandings reached during the August summit in Alaska.
Lavrov told reporters Tuesday that the US proposal conflicts with previous commitments. He suggested that European governments encourage Washington to reconsider and push instead for a temporary halt to fighting.
Policy Decisions Still Unclear
Trump said he has “not made a determination,” without clarifying the subject. Meanwhile, Ukraine has requested Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
At the same time, the Senate is preparing a new sanctions package against Russia. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the bill already has 85 co-sponsors and is awaiting White House review before being introduced. Once submitted, it is expected to pass quickly.
Upcoming NATO Meeting
Trump is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday to discuss security and alliance priorities.
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