Washington / Moscow — The planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at restarting peace efforts in Ukraine, has been canceled amid renewed diplomatic tensions.
Diplomatic Reversal and Breakdown of Negotiations
The Financial Times reported that the White House on Tuesday confirmed the cancellation of the Budapest meeting, which had been expected within the coming weeks.
The decision followed a Monday phone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, after which both governments agreed that no immediate face-to-face talks were required.
Trump and Putin had earlier spoken by phone on Thursday, announcing plans to meet in Hungary’s capital. Their last in-person meeting took place in Anchorage, Alaska, in August, but that dialogue ended without major progress.
The Budapest summit had been introduced as a step toward renewing negotiations to end the Ukraine war. However, just five days after the announcement, it was withdrawn.
White House officials cited frustration over what they described as Putin’s unwillingness to compromise.
In recent remarks, Trump suggested the United States might consider supplying Tomahawk long-range missiles to Ukraine — a move that could allow strikes deeper into Russian territory.
Tensions Between Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow
A senior administration official said Trump’s patience was “wearing thin,” adding that Washington “will not wait indefinitely” for Moscow to act. Last week, a Ukrainian delegation met defense officials and U.S. weapons manufacturers in Washington to discuss military assistance.
Diplomatic sources said Trump’s subsequent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was tense, with exchanges described as “heated.” Following the meeting, Trump wrote on social media:
“Russia and Ukraine should stop the war immediately.”
European leaders — including those from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — issued a joint statement supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The declaration said, “Ukraine must not lose further territory, and the current front line should serve as the starting point for negotiations.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected Western calls for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that it would contradict “the understandings reached in Alaska.”
Uncertainty Over Putin’s Travel and Future Diplomacy
President Putin continues to face an active International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Although Hungary had offered safe passage for the summit, questions remain about whether he could travel through European airspace without legal risk.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Warsaw could not guarantee the Russian leader’s flight safety. “Our judiciary is independent. If a court orders the detention of a plane carrying President Putin, we cannot interfere,” Sikorski told reporters.
With the cancellation of the Budapest summit, neither Washington nor Moscow has announced a new plan for dialogue. The move underscores the widening gap between the two powers, as hopes for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict remain uncertain.
