Trump Rejects ‘Wasted Meeting’ with Putin as U.S.-Russia Peace Talks on Ukraine Stall
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he does not want a “wasted meeting” with Russian President Vladimir Putin after plans for a face-to-face discussion on ending the war in Ukraine were unexpectedly put on hold.
Speaking from the White House on Tuesday, Trump signaled that a major obstacle to progress remains Moscow’s refusal to stop fighting along the current front line, underscoring the widening gap between the two sides over how to achieve peace.
Earlier in the day, a White House official confirmed there were “no plans” for a Trump-Putin summit “in the immediate future.” The comment came days after Trump announced that he and Putin were preparing to meet in Budapest within two weeks to discuss a ceasefire proposal.
But as differences between Washington and Moscow’s peace frameworks became increasingly clear this week, hopes for a breakthrough appeared to fade fast. The leaders last met in Anchorage, Alaska, in August, during an emergency summit that ended without tangible results.
According to diplomats, the decision to cancel the second round of direct talks may be part of a broader strategy to avoid another fruitless meeting that could hurt Trump politically or diplomatically.
U.S. Halts Preparations for Trump-Putin Meeting
“I didn’t want to have a wasted meeting,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “If we’re going to meet, it has to be for something productive, not just a photo op.”
A senior European diplomat told Reuters that Washington appeared to conclude that Moscow was “asking for too much,” leaving no realistic chance for a deal in Budapest.
“I guess the Russians wanted too much, and it became evident for the Americans that there will be no deal for Trump in Budapest,” the diplomat said.
A preparatory meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, originally planned for this week, was also canceled. The White House described a recent phone call between the two diplomats as “productive,” suggesting a face-to-face meeting was “no longer necessary.”
Trump Backs Ceasefire Proposal to Freeze Current Battle Lines
On Monday, Trump publicly endorsed a ceasefire plan supported by Kyiv and European leaders, which would freeze the conflict along the existing front line.
“Let it be cut the way it is,” Trump said. “Cut and stop at the battle line. Go home. Stop fighting, stop killing people.”
The plan would effectively halt military operations without requiring Ukraine to cede additional territory. However, Russia has strongly rejected this proposal, viewing it as a temporary truce rather than a lasting peace.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had heard similar ideas before but insisted that “the consistency of Russia’s position doesn’t change.” He reiterated that Russia would only agree to talks leading to what it calls a “long-term, sustainable peace.”
Moscow’s Non-Negotiable Demands Block Progress
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov repeated on Tuesday that the Kremlin seeks a settlement that addresses the “root causes” of the war — a phrase widely understood as code for Russia’s maximalist demands, including:
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Recognition of full Russian sovereignty over the Donbas region.
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Demilitarization of Ukraine, effectively ending Kyiv’s military capability.
These conditions remain unacceptable to both Ukraine and its European allies, who see them as an attempt by Moscow to legitimize territorial conquest.
Lavrov argued that freezing the front line would “only result in a temporary ceasefire,” implying that Moscow views such proposals as short-sighted and strategically weak.
Europe and Kyiv Unite Behind Trump’s Freeze Proposal
European leaders, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, issued a joint statement on Tuesday supporting the idea of freezing the front line as a starting point for negotiations.
The statement accused Russia of not being “serious about peace” and urged Moscow to show commitment to ending hostilities.
Zelensky described the proposed freeze as the “beginning of diplomacy” and said that Russia was doing everything possible to avoid dialogue. He added that the only thing that could make Moscow “pay attention” was the continued supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine.
Tensions Rise After Trump-Zelensky White House Meeting
Trump had spoken with Putin by phone shortly before meeting Zelensky at the White House last week. Reports suggest that the conversation between Trump and Zelensky quickly turned tense, with some describing it as a “shouting match.”
According to sources familiar with the discussion, Trump urged Zelensky to consider ceding portions of the Donbas region, including Donetsk and Luhansk, as part of a deal with Moscow.
Zelensky flatly rejected the idea, maintaining that Ukraine cannot surrender any territory it still controls, arguing that doing so would only encourage Russia to launch future invasions.
“Giving up part of our land would not bring peace—it would bring the next war,” Zelensky reportedly told his aides after the meeting.
Putin’s Surprise Call and U.S. Missile Plans
Putin’s unscheduled call with Trump last Thursday followed speculation that Washington was preparing to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory.
According to Zelensky, it was the Tomahawk issue that forced Moscow to re-engage in talks, fearing an escalation that could shift the balance on the battlefield.
Though the missile package was not formally approved, discussions surrounding it signaled a new phase in U.S. strategy—using military pressure to push Moscow toward negotiation.
Trump’s Balancing Act: Diplomacy vs. Deterrence
Despite suspending plans for a summit, Trump has continued to emphasize the importance of diplomacy. “We’re always open to peace, but peace has to mean something real,” he said Tuesday.
The White House is reportedly weighing new sanctions against Russian entities while simultaneously exploring diplomatic backchannels through European partners. Analysts say Trump’s approach reflects a delicate balancing act—trying to pressure Moscow without closing the door on potential peace talks.
A senior U.S. official told CNN that while the administration remains open to “constructive engagement,” there is skepticism about Moscow’s sincerity. “Russia is playing for time,” the official said. “They want a pause, not peace.”
The Road Ahead: A Stalled Peace Process
For now, the diplomatic path appears blocked. With Moscow demanding total control over eastern Ukraine and Washington backing Kyiv’s refusal to surrender land, both sides seem entrenched.
Still, the White House insists that dialogue remains possible. “We’ll keep working with our allies, we’ll keep supporting Ukraine, and we’ll keep pushing for peace,” Trump said. “But we’re not going to waste time on meetings that go nowhere.”
As winter approaches and the war drags into its fourth year, the prospect of a Trump-Putin peace summit seems increasingly uncertain. But even a temporary freeze in fighting—if achieved—could offer a brief reprieve in one of the world’s most dangerous conflicts.