Shadow over Putin-Trump summit in Budapest: Moscow demands too much. Lavrov-Rubio meeting postponed

2025-10-21 18:35:58Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Shadow over Putin-Trump summit in Budapest: Moscow demands too much.
Putin and Trump

A second summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin appears unlikely to take place anytime soon after a preliminary meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, scheduled for this week, has been temporarily postponed, a White House official confirmed to CNN.

According to sources familiar with the matter, after a phone call between Rubio and Lavrov, US officials assessed that the Russian position has not changed from the maximalist demands, making it impossible for the time being to organize a new summit. However, Rubio and Lavrov may hold another conversation this week.

Last Thursday, after a phone call with Putin, Trump said the two leaders would meet in a few weeks in Budapest, Hungary. He also announced that a meeting of top advisers, led by Rubio, would be held this week. But according to CNN, everything has been put on hold.

The White House has yet to provide an official comment. Deputy spokeswoman Anna Kelly told CNN: “President Trump has worked tirelessly to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to end this senseless war and stop the killing. He has courageously engaged all parties and will do whatever it takes to achieve peace.”

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated from Moscow that it is "premature" to talk about a date for the meeting between Ministers Lavrov and Rubio, as it requires "long preparation."

He added that "something that has not yet been agreed cannot be postponed," accusing European Union and NATO countries of trying to hinder any development.

"There is no issue they are not interested in, except how to harm Russia, undermine our positions and make it more difficult for us to solve the problems we face. This is the sole goal of EU policy. They are the most destructive force on the international stage. Therefore, it is not surprising that they are engaged in any kind of sabotage. We are prepared for this and know how to deal with it," Ryabkov told the Tass news agency, answering a question about the risk of canceling the Trump-Putin summit.


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