Plans for a face-to-face summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine conflict have been postponed, with Trump emphasizing that he does not want a meeting that achieves nothing. The announcement comes amid unresolved differences over Moscow’s refusal to pause hostilities along current front lines.

Summit Delayed, Not Canceled

A White House official confirmed that, despite earlier remarks by Trump suggesting a potential meeting in Budapest within two weeks, there is currently no plan for a near-term summit. While discussions between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were deemed productive, both sides were unable to bridge their disagreements on a ceasefire, effectively shelving the proposed face-to-face talks.

Trump: No Time Wasted, Future Possibilities Remain

Trump described the postponement as a measure to avoid a “wasted meeting” but left open the possibility of future talks. “It will not happen for now, but anything can happen down the road, and we will keep everyone informed,” he said. The last encounter between the two leaders occurred in August in Alaska, an urgently convened summit that yielded no concrete outcomes.

Diplomatic Channels Continue

Although a high-level face-to-face summit is off the table, communication continues via diplomatic channels. U.S. and Russian officials stress ongoing coordination, but key differences over a Ukraine ceasefire remain a critical sticking point preventing immediate progress.