Why Was the Putin-Trump Meeting in Hungary Postponed?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trump-Putin meeting delayed
- No new date scheduled
- Constructive talks but inconclusive
- Ongoing geopolitical tensions
- Preparations for future summits continue
Washington, Oct 22 (NationPress) A scheduled discussion in Hungary between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been delayed, with officials from both nations confirming that no alternative date has been established.
Preparations for a potential meeting in Budapest, Hungary, have been suspended following what was termed a "constructive yet inconclusive" phone dialogue between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this week, according to the officials.
After a conversation with Putin last week, Trump expressed his willingness to meet the Russian leader shortly to pursue a breakthrough in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, he conveyed to reporters in Washington on Tuesday that he was not interested in having "a wasted meeting," as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the timing for a potential summit remains uncertain, emphasizing that "serious preparation" is necessary before any meeting can occur.
Despite the postponement, Russia's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, mentioned late Tuesday on his X account that "preparations continue" for a future summit, indicating that the meeting had not been canceled.
The delay of the summit followed Trump's encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday, during which he dismissed the idea of a trilateral summit involving Russia and Ukraine due to heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.
Trump and Putin previously met in the US state of Alaska in August, but no agreements were reached, and ceasefire negotiations remain stalled.
On October 16, Trump initiated a renewed effort to conclude the "inglorious" Russia-Ukraine war, announcing his intention to meet with Putin.
He noted on Truth Social that he believed significant progress was made during the recent phone conversation with Putin.
He also stated he would discuss his dialogue with Putin with Zelensky.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the conversation.