The likelihood of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin appears increasingly uncertain, as Trump expressed skepticism about the potential for productive talks. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Asia, Trump emphasized that any meeting with Putin would need to yield tangible results. ‘I’m going to have to know that we’re going to make a deal. I’m not going to be wasting my time,’ he stated, following the collapse of plans for a summit in Budapest. Despite his past rapport with Putin, Trump described the current situation as ‘very disappointing.’
Meanwhile, Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev engaged in discussions with U.S. officials over the weekend, focusing on resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Dmitriev, who met with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in Florida, expressed optimism about a diplomatic breakthrough. ‘I believe Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine are actually quite close to a diplomatic solution,’ he told CNN, highlighting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s willingness to use the current front line as a basis for negotiations.
The Kremlin, however, downplayed the notion of a canceled meeting between the two leaders, stressing the need for thorough preparation. ‘Presidents cannot meet for the sake of meeting,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, noting the complexity of the process. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been tasked with laying the groundwork for a potential summit.
Amid these diplomatic efforts, tensions on the ground remain high. Russian missile and drone strikes in Ukraine resulted in multiple casualties, while Russia reported intercepting over 120 Ukrainian drones. Additionally, Putin announced the successful final test of the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile with an ‘invincible’ design and a range of up to 14,000 kilometers. The weapon’s unpredictable flight path and near-unlimited range pose a significant challenge to existing missile defense systems.