Plans for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest have been postponed, according to a US official. The meeting, aimed at discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine, was announced last week but lacked a specific date. The decision to hold off on the summit followed a call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

A senior White House official stated, "There are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for "serious preparation" before any summit could take place.

The back-and-forth regarding the meeting reflects the complexities of Trump's attempts to address the nearly four-year conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders have accused Putin of stalling diplomatic efforts to continue his invasion. They have also expressed strong opposition to any suggestions that Ukraine should concede territory to Russia in exchange for peace.

In a joint statement, eight European leaders and senior EU officials affirmed their commitment to using Russia's frozen assets abroad to support Ukraine, despite concerns about the legality of such actions. Zelenskyy noted that Putin's recent return to diplomacy coincided with the potential supply of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but he warned that any easing of pressure would lead to a withdrawal from dialogue.

Trump's position on the conflict has shifted multiple times. After a phone call with Putin and a meeting with Zelenskyy, he suggested that both sides should "stop where they are" in the ongoing war. However, he also indicated that the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine should be "cut up," leaving most of it under Russian control. While Trump believes Ukraine could ultimately defeat Russia, he expressed doubts about the likelihood of this outcome.

European leaders are urging the US to maintain pressure for an immediate ceasefire, with current battle lines serving as a basis for future negotiations. As diplomatic efforts continue, an EU summit in Brussels is expected to discuss further economic sanctions against Russia, with the aim of increasing pressure on its economy and defense industry until a peace agreement is reached.