Trump-Putin Budapest Meeting Abandoned as Russia Stands Firm on Ukraine Demands

The planned summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest was called off after Moscow reiterated its extensive demands regarding Ukraine, according to a report from the Financial Times on Friday, which cited sources familiar with the situation.

Earlier in October, Trump and Putin had agreed to meet in the Hungarian capital to discuss potential resolutions to Russia’s ongoing invasion, which has lasted for over three and a half years.

Shortly thereafter, Russia’s Foreign Ministry reportedly sent a memo to Washington, restating its demands for Ukraine to relinquish territory, limit its military forces, and commit to not joining NATO.

The summit was ultimately canceled following a conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who informed Trump that Russia showed «no willingness to negotiate.» In a YouTube interview on Sunday, Lavrov accused Trump of «radically» shifting his stance on Ukrainian peace after their August summit in Alaska.

According to one insider quoted by the FT, “[Trump] was not impressed with their position.”

However, it was noted that Trump remained open to meeting with Russian leaders «when and where he believes progress can be made.»

Nevertheless, Trump was reportedly «frustrated» by Putin’s claims of battlefield successes near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk and along the Oskil River during their call on October 16, the FT reported.

Moscow has insisted on gaining control over the remaining territories in the Donetsk region as a prerequisite for peace negotiations, a condition that Kyiv has firmly rejected.

Requests for comments from the Kremlin, Russia’s Foreign Ministry, and the U.S. State Department went unanswered.