European leaders back U.S. stance, urge ceasefire before further talks
A planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been postponed following Moscow’s refusal to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, according to a senior White House official.
“There are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future,” the official said, following a phone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. While the call was described as constructive, both sides agreed not to proceed with an in-person meeting at this stage.
President Trump had previously announced intentions to meet Putin in Hungary to discuss a possible resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. However, Kremlin officials made it clear that Russia would not consider a ceasefire unless Ukraine agreed to territorial concessions — a condition strongly opposed by Kyiv and its allies.
Moscow Unmoved on Ceasefire Terms
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed there was no agreement on a date for a summit, stating that preparations for such a meeting would require “serious work” and time. “Neither President Trump nor President Putin have set an exact date,” he said. “There is no current understanding of when such a meeting might take place.”
Lavrov, speaking after his phone conversation with Rubio, emphasized that the timing and location of a summit were secondary to the need for meaningful progress on agreements made during the last Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.
European Allies Urge U.S. to Stand Firm
In response to the summit delay, European leaders expressed support for President Trump’s position that any ceasefire must take effect immediately, based on current frontlines. A joint statement from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Union stated: “We strongly support President Trump’s demand that fighting must stop now and that the existing line of contact should be the basis for future negotiations.”
Diplomatic sources indicated the cancellation of the preparatory Rubio-Lavrov meeting in Budapest signaled a reluctance by the U.S. to proceed without clear commitments from Moscow. One European diplomat remarked, “It became apparent that Russia was unwilling to make meaningful concessions, so the U.S. saw little value in moving forward.”
Concerns Over Summit Venue and Security
Hungary had been selected as the potential host for the summit, but the choice was met with reservations among some EU countries, given Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s close ties with Moscow. Airspace and security issues were also raised, with Poland warning that it could block or intercept Putin’s aircraft due to an outstanding international arrest warrant. Bulgaria, however, indicated it would allow Russian aircraft to transit its airspace if needed.
While both Washington and Moscow have not entirely ruled out a future meeting, the immediate focus now shifts to diplomatic coordination with European allies and maintaining pressure on Russia to halt hostilities in Ukraine without preconditions.
