What is the current status of the summit between Putin and Trump?

Preparations for the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest are still ongoing, despite conflicting reports about its cancellation. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed that the concerned parties are working towards the meeting.

Why did Trump announce the postponement of the summit?

President Donald Trump announced the indefinite postponement of the summit, stating he does not want to waste time in 'pointless meetings' and prefers to avoid an 'empty' meeting.

What was the intended focus of the Budapest summit?

The summit was scheduled to focus on efforts to end the war in Ukraine, amidst ongoing military and diplomatic tensions.

What are the implications of the cancellation of preliminary meetings?

The cancellation of preliminary meetings between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov adds to the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the Budapest summit and suggests ongoing diplomatic challenges.

How has the situation in Ukraine influenced the summit discussions?

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has influenced discussions, with reports of Trump suggesting Ukraine give up the eastern Donbas region for a peace agreement with Moscow, raising tensions within Ukraine as President Zelensky advocates for increased pressure on Russia.

What challenges do Moscow and Washington face before the summit can occur?

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that there is a 'daunting task' ahead for both Moscow and Washington before they can successfully negotiate and reach the summit table.

Putin and Trump: The Budapest Summit Between Postponement and Ongoing Preparations

Amid conflicting statements between Washington and Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed that preparations for the anticipated summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump in Budapest are still ongoing, denying media reports about the cancellation of the summit.

Dmitriev described these reports as aimed at undermining efforts to hold the Russian-American summit, noting that the concerned parties continue to work on preparing for the crucial meeting, despite what he referred to as "media disinformation campaigns."

* Trump: No Use in a "Empty" Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump surprised everyone yesterday evening, Tuesday, by announcing the indefinite postponement of the summit, justifying his decision by saying he "does not want to waste time in pointless meetings."

Trump told reporters from the White House:

"I don't want to have an empty meeting... I don't want to waste time, so we'll see what happens."

* A Summit to End the War in Ukraine

The summit, which was scheduled to take place in two weeks in the Hungarian capital Budapest, was set to focus on efforts to end the war in Ukraine, amid ongoing military and diplomatic escalation.

However, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, there is a "daunting task" still ahead for Moscow and Washington before reaching the negotiating table, while also confirming that the idea of the two presidents arriving on the same plane to Budapest is merely a political fantasy.

* No Specific Date... and No European Participation

Peskov clarified that there is currently no specific date for the meeting between Putin and Trump, indicating that it is still too early to discuss the participation of European countries in this summit, despite what is being circulated in political circles.

* American Pressure on Ukraine for Peace

In a notable development, a senior Ukrainian official revealed to Agence France-Presse that Trump offered Kyiv to give up the eastern Donbas region in exchange for a peace agreement with Moscow.

This proposal has increased tensions within Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to assert that peace can only be achieved through increased military and diplomatic pressure on Russia.

Zelensky pointed out that daily Russian attacks target energy infrastructure as winter approaches, confirming that areas like Sumy and Zaporizhia are suffering severe damage, while emergency teams are working to repair the damaged networks.

* Cancellation of Preliminary Meetings

In a related context, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov canceled a meeting that was scheduled to prepare for the summit, following a phone call that took place between them last Monday.

This cancellation is viewed as an additional indicator of the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the Budapest summit.

* Good Personal Relationship but Rising Tensions

Despite what Trump previously described as a "good personal relationship" with Putin, frustration has become evident in the American president towards his Russian counterpart in recent months, especially with the stalled understandings regarding the Ukrainian file.

In this charged atmosphere, the Budapest summit remains suspended between preparation and postponement, amid media skepticism, conflicting statements, and an uncertain fate for peace efforts in Ukraine.