Summit Talks on Hold Despite Trump’s Announcement
Despite President Donald Trump’s recent comments about a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, officials from both nations have confirmed no immediate plans are in place for such a meeting.
Trump suggested over the weekend that a meeting could take place “within two weeks,” but a senior White House official clarified Tuesday that no summit is scheduled. The Kremlin echoed this stance, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that any future meeting would require “serious preparation” and that no timeframe had been finalized.
Disagreements on Ukraine Ceasefire Conditions
The delay follows continued disagreement over the terms of a Ukraine ceasefire. Russia has reportedly demanded full control of the Donbas region, while Trump has proposed freezing the war at current battle lines as a starting point for negotiations.
That gap appears to have widened despite ongoing diplomatic contact. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call. The White House later announced that no in-person follow-up meeting was needed after the call.
Moscow Holding Firm on Demands
Lavrov told reporters Tuesday that Russia’s position remains unchanged from what was agreed at the Alaska summit in August, where Trump and Putin met to discuss a potential path toward peace. Russia has continued to insist on Ukrainian neutrality, dismantling of its armed forces, and the retention of occupied territory as prerequisites for any long-term ceasefire.
Lavrov also dismissed reports of Russian inflexibility as “unscrupulous,” stating the goals outlined by Moscow months ago are still valid and were reiterated to Rubio during their call.
Western Leaders Back Trump’s Freeze Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with eight European heads of state, issued a joint statement this week blaming Moscow for stalling peace talks. The statement accused Putin of continuing to choose “violence and destruction” rather than engaging in serious diplomacy.
Zelenskyy and European allies have expressed support for Trump’s idea of freezing the battle lines as a potential pathway to a negotiated settlement. However, the Kremlin has ruled out direct talks with Zelenskyy, insisting that no meeting will occur until a near-final peace framework is in place.
Setback for Trump’s Peace Efforts
The uncertainty surrounding the summit poses a political challenge for President Trump, who has repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine swiftly. While he has managed to re-engage both U.S. and Russian leadership in discussions, the lack of concrete movement from Moscow continues to stall progress.
Trump’s latest peace initiative hinges on convincing both Kyiv and Moscow to adopt a transitional ceasefire—but Putin’s demands for major concessions remain a significant roadblock.
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- Global News – https://idahonews.co/global-news/
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