Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 15, 2025.
Alexander Zemlianichenko | Afp | Getty Photographs
Russia scrambled on Wednesday to salvage the prospect of in-person talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin after they have been unceremoniously placed on maintain.
Trump mentioned on Tuesday that he did not need “to have a wasted assembly” with Putin, which was set to happen in Hungary within the subsequent few weeks, because it turned clear that Russia opposes the concept of an instantaneous ceasefire with Ukraine.
“I do not wish to have a waste of time — so we’ll see what occurs,” Trump mentioned following a name on Monday between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov.
After the decision, Russia’s prime diplomat instructed reporters in Moscow that he had instructed Rubio that “Russia has not modified its place” since Trump and Putin met in Alaska in August, and that whereas Moscow needed a “lasting and sustainable peace,” it was not keen on an “quick ceasefire that can result in nothing.”
After these feedback, and with Trump seemingly pouring chilly water on the concept of assembly Putin once more, the Kremlin appeared to enter harm limitation mode, insisting on Wednesday that the dates for the summit in Budapest “weren’t set” however that preparations have been nonetheless underway.
“That is but to be achieved. Cautious preparation is required earlier than then. Time is required for that,” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, instructed reporters, in feedback translated by NBC Information.
“There is not any information but; it is clear that each one of that is surrounded by lots of gossip, rumors, and so forth. For probably the most half, they’re utterly unfaithful. There is not any information but,” he added.
One other U-turn?
The suspension of talks with Russia seems to be yet one more U-turn from the U.S. administration, which has seesawed this 12 months over its place on Russia, the Ukraine struggle and its causes, and its potential decision.
There was greater than a whiff of smugness and schadenfreude in Moscow, and Russian state media, final week when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s personal in-person talks with Trump final Friday appeared to go badly.
Significantly after Russia had successfully undermined the talks by getting in there first, gaining Trump’s ear with a “very productive” telephone name — as Trump described it — that was held with Putin. It was throughout that decision when the leaders agreed to satisfy in particular person inside a few weeks.
Trump and his group appeared to vacillate on their assist for Ukraine after that decision, with Zelenskyy leaving the White Home the following day empty handed, with no long-range Tomahawk missiles, as requested, and considerations that it could possibly be pressured to surrender occupied territory in jap Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump gestures as he greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he arrives for a gathering on the White Home in Washington, DC, on Oct. 17, 2025.
Tom Brenner | AFP | Getty Photographs
These fears grew when Trump final weekend referred to as for the partially Russian-occupied area of Donbas, the epicenter of ongoing preventing within the three-and-a half 12 months struggle, to be “reduce the best way it’s.”
“It is reduce up proper now, I believe 78% of the land is already taken by Russia,” the president mentioned on Air Pressure One on Sunday. “They need to cease proper now on the battle traces. … Go dwelling, cease killing individuals and be achieved.”
Ukraine and a bunch of European allies pushed again towards Trump’s place, warning in a joint assertion Tuesday that Russia was utilizing “stalling ways” to extend the struggle. Cautious of alienating Trump, nonetheless, they have been cautious to reward his efforts to deliver each side to the negotiating desk.
“We strongly assist President Trump’s place that the preventing ought to cease instantly, and that the present line of contact ought to be the start line of negotiations. We stay dedicated to the precept that worldwide borders should not be modified by pressure,” European leaders famous.
Russia blames ‘faux information’
Now the tables have turned once more, Moscow seems to be feeling anxious, with the Kremlin insisting it’s severe about ending the struggle.
“Nobody needs to waste time. Neither President Trump nor President Putin. These are two presidents who’re accustomed to working successfully and effectively, however effectiveness all the time requires preparation,” Peskov acknowledged Wednesday.
Varied Russian officers in Putin’s inner-circle accused media retailers of spreading “faux information” in regards to the “cancellation” of the Hungary summit in a bid to undermine it.
“Media is twisting remark in regards to the ‘quick future’ to undercut the upcoming Summit. Preparations proceed,” Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s funding envoy and CEO of the Russian Direct Funding Fund, commented on the X social community.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) and Russian Direct Funding Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev throughout a gathering with Russian Direct Funding Fund specialists and representatives of worldwide funding neighborhood at Konstantin Palace.
Mikhail Klimentyev | TASS by way of Getty Photographs
Russian overseas ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova additionally introduced an analogous argument, telling Radio Sputnik on Wednesday that an “data circus” surrounded the Trump-Putin summit.
“This complete data circus which, by the best way, they have not completed but, it is nonetheless occurring: Pretend leaks, self-corrections, confirmations, denials, exist to as soon as once more present informational assist to Zelenskyy,” she mentioned, in feedback translated by NBC Information.
