The highly anticipated second summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin faces uncertainty after preparatory talks between their top diplomats were postponed indefinitely, a report by CNN said on Tuesday.
The development casts a shadow over what was expected to be a landmark meeting in Budapest that could potentially reshape negotiations to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The postponement of the meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has raised questions about whether the Budapest summit will proceed as planned.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that the delay stems from fundamental disagreements on resolving the Ukraine war, with Russian positions reportedly remaining too maximalist for Washington’s comfort.
Trump-Zelenskyy meeting exposes deep divisions over Ukraine’s future
The complications surrounding the Budapest summit follow a contentious October 17 meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where fundamental disagreements over Ukraine’s territorial integrity came to the forefront.
The encounter, described by multiple sources as “tense” and at times acrimonious, revealed a significant shift in Trump’s position following his October 16 phone conversation with Putin.
According to European officials briefed on the discussions, Trump pressured Zelenskyy to accept territorial concessions to Russia, specifically suggesting Ukraine surrender the entire eastern Donbas region to secure peace.
Sources familiar with the conversation said Trump warned Zelenskyy that Putin had threatened to “destroy” Ukraine if it refused to comply with Russian demands.
Trump later denied explicitly demanding Ukraine cede the entire Donbas, stating “we never discussed that,” though he endorsed freezing the conflict along current battle lines, which would leave approximately 78 percent of the Donetsk region under Russian control.
Following the meeting, Trump posted on social media, urging both sides to “stop where they are” and negotiate a deal.
Zelenskyy departed the White House without securing the long-range Tomahawk missiles he had sought, with Trump indicating such a decision would not align with American interests and that he hoped to “end the war without Tomahawks”.
Budapest summit’s strategic significance
The decision to hold a possible Trump–Putin meeting in Budapest isn’t just about picking a convenient venue; it signals a major diplomatic shift.
Analysts say it highlights Hungary’s growing role as a bridge between East and West at a moment when most of Europe is lined up firmly behind Kyiv.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been making that case himself. He calls Hungary “the only pro-peace country in Europe,” and says Budapest was the only sensible place for such talks to happen.
Orbán also framed the summit as a matter of national survival.
He said the war has cost Hungary around €23.4 billion over three years, about €5,000 per family, through higher energy prices, inflation, and wider economic fallout.
“The success of peace negotiations in Budapest is vital to Hungary’s very existence,” he warned, arguing that a deal could snap Hungary back to its pre-war growth path and even “double or triple” economic expansion.
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