Trump-Putin summit at risk of failure: why talks were suspended
21 October 2025 09:54
Due to Russia’s intransigent stance on ending the war in Ukraine, the announced meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin in Budapest has been postponed. Sources briefed on the preparations told CNN that the meeting between the top U.S. and Russian diplomats scheduled for this week has been postponed indefinitely, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
What happened
After a phone call with Putin, Trump said that a meeting of senior advisers was to take place next week. The US delegation was to be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
However, as a White House official told CNN, the expected meeting between Rubio and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, has been postponed.
One of the reasons for this is the disagreement on how to end the war against Ukraine.
In particular, yesterday Rubio and Lavrov had a phone conversation and discussed “next steps” after Trump and Putin’s conversation about a possible end to the war.
“The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized the importance of future meetings to cooperate in advancing a long-term resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, consistent with President Trump’s vision,” the State Department said.
However, CNN sources familiar with the situation said that after the call, officials concluded that Russia’s position on the war in Ukraine had changed little from its maximalist demands.
According to the source, Rubio is unlikely to recommend a meeting between Putin and Trump next week. At the same time, Rubio and Lavrov agreed to talk again this week.
Why it matters
The summit in Budapest is in question. It was there that Trump planned to hold a personal meeting with Putin.
Delaying the preliminary talks could signal that there will be no quick diplomatic breakthrough.
Washington and Moscow see different ways to end the war: The US talks about “sustainable agreements,” while Russia talks about implementing its own conditions.
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What the White House says
Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said that President Trump is “committed to achieving peace and ending the senseless bloodshed” and is ready to use all diplomatic tools.
“President Trump has consistently worked to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to end this senseless war and stop the killing. He has engaged with parties on all sides and will do everything he can to bring about peace,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told CNN.
Background of the talks
The last face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin took place more than two months ago in Anchorage, Alaska.
The talks lasted almost three hours and ended without a deal, but the leaders declared “progress.”
Trump has repeatedly publicly called on Ukraine and Russia to “stop the war immediately,” suggesting that the fighting should stop “along the front lines.”
What’s next
It is not yet known whether the planned summit will take place next week.
Analysts speculate that Washington may insist on changing the Kremlin’s approach to the ceasefire before moving forward with the summit.
Possible consequences for Ukraine:
If the talks resume, international discussions on territorial compromises could intensify.
Delaying the meeting may mean that the US will not agree to Russian terms.
Ukraine remains a key factor in the negotiations, even if it is not directly involved in the dialogue.
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