Budapest Summit Canceled; Rutte Meets Trump

President Trump canceled a planned Budapest summit with Vladimir Putin, saying he did not want a “wasted meeting” after Moscow rejected a proposed ceasefire and continued heavy strikes that have killed civilians, including children. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met with Trump in Washington and told U.S. leaders he supports Trump’s approach of sustained economic pressure and sanctions, saying they appear to be affecting Putin’s calculus. Rutte and Trump agreed that supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles would not be an immediate solution because of long training timelines and limited near-term impact. A lower-level U.S.–Russia meeting between Senator Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov produced little progress, and Kyiv reported striking a Russian chemical plant with British Storm Shadow missiles. Ukraine and its supporters are urging renewed military aid while U.S. lawmakers and the administration debate secondary sanctions and other pressures; the issues will be discussed at upcoming Coalition of the Willing talks in London. Trump says he seeks a negotiated peace and is keeping diplomatic and other options open.