President Trump says he does not want to waste the upcoming face‑to‑face meeting with Russian President Putin.
Trump Urges Not to Waste Time on Putin Meeting
President Donald Trump told a journalist on Tuesday that he does not want to waste the upcoming face‑to‑face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He said, “I don’t want to waste the meeting. I don’t want to waste time. We’ll see what happens.” Trump also noted that the United States and Russia have reached solid peace agreements, and that both countries lose 5 to 7 thousand soldiers each week.
Trump added that no final decision has yet been made and that he would update the public “in the next two days” on the next steps.
White House Says No Summit With Putin Is Planned
A White House spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday that the U.S. president will not meet with President Vladimir Putin in the near future.
Earlier the administration had suggested a potential meeting in Budapest, but it now states that no “eyes‑on‑eyes” meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Russian foreign minister is also slated for the immediate future.
The two leaders spoke by phone on the same day, but the last face‑to‑face discussion occurred on August 15 in Alaska, a summit that produced no agreement.
Zelensky Ties Tomahawk Missiles to Peace Prospects
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Tuesday evening speech that the delivery of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine could be key to ending the conflict with Russia.
He noted that if the United States were to provide the missiles, “Ukraine’s long‑range firepower would send a signal that Russia is prepared to end the war.”
Zelensky added that the Spring 2024 discussion about Tomahawks represents a significant diplomatic investment and that growing Ukrainian long‑range capabilities could force Russia to consider peace.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Dismisses New Developments
On X, Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó wrote that, since the announcement of the Budapest peace summit, all parties have been working to prevent it from taking place.
He criticised the “pro‑war political elites and their media” for their actions preceding deadlines for war and peace, saying the same pattern is seen before most European Council meetings and sanction decisions.
“Nothing new under the sun,” he stated, and warned that until the summit happens, “expect a flood of leaks, fake news, and claims that the summit will not take place.”
