The decision follows preparatory talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that, while described as "productive," reportedly failed to bridge the significant gap between Washington and Moscow on ending the war in Ukraine.
President Trump, who had announced the Budapest summit just days earlier, confirmed the delay, telling reporters he did not want to have a "wasted meeting" or a "waste of time."
The proposed meeting, which was to be the second between the two leaders since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, hit a snag primarily over Russia's unyielding stance on an immediate ceasefire.
Russia's "Maximalist" Stance Stalls Diplomacy
Sources close to the negotiations indicated that Russia's "maximalist" position, demanding full control of the eastern Donbas region and opposing a simple freeze of the frontlines, was the major sticking point.
The diplomatic flurry began last week following a phone call between Trump and Putin, which the US President described as "very productive," and was followed by a contentious meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
Kremlin Downplays "Cancellation"
The Kremlin, meanwhile, sought to downplay the news, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting that no specific date for a summit had ever been set.
The initial plan for the summit, to be hosted by Moscow-friendly Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, had already generated controversy, including concerns from Poland about the legality of President Putin—who is under an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant—flying through European airspace.
With the Budapest summit shelved for now, the focus shifts back to ongoing diplomatic efforts and a likely continuation of the conflict, as key demands from both Russia and the West remain irreconcilable.