Trump-Putin Budapest Summit Cancelled Amid Ceasefire Disputes

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, following a "very productive" call with Putin. However, the summit's prospects quickly dimmed after a preparatory call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly did not go well, with the White House subsequently stating there were no immediate plans for a meeting. Russia rejected proposals for a cease-fire freezing front lines, and Moscow's demands for Ukraine to cede territory, particularly in Donetsk, complicated negotiations. Trump reportedly pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to territorial concessions to Russia as a condition for peace. Attempts to schedule further talks have stalled, with diplomatic sources suggesting the U.S. may be unwilling to proceed without Russia softening its stance. Overall, the summit remains uncertain amid ongoing tensions and unmet preconditions for negotiations.