Washington has officially canceled the upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, which was scheduled to take place in Budapest next month. The decision was made after Russia submitted a list of demands that U.S. authorities deemed “unacceptable.” Reports indicate that Moscow’s proposed terms included significant concessions, such as lifting Western sanctions and acknowledging Russia’s territorial claims, conditions that U.S. officials found impossible to accept.
The viability of the summit had already come into question earlier in the week, with a U.S. official stating that there were “no immediate plans” for a meeting between the two leaders. The intended purpose of the summit was to foster a diplomatic détente between the United States and Russia amid prevailing global uncertainties.
Sources close to the Trump administration suggest a notable shift in the President’s attitude towards his Russian counterpart. While initially believing his “personal chemistry” with Putin could swiftly resolve the conflict in Ukraine, President Trump has reportedly become “frustrated” with Putin’s actions.
The cancellation occurs in the wake of Russia’s prominent testing of two advanced nuclear-powered strategic systems: the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone. Both are capable of delivering nuclear payloads over vast distances. President Trump publicly condemned these tests as “inappropriate,” advocating for Putin to concentrate on ending the Ukraine war rather than escalating military tensions.
In a parallel development, President Trump has instructed the Department of War to initiate preparations for U.S. nuclear weapons testing, citing similar actions by other global powers. He underscored the United States’ numerical advantage in nuclear weapons, attributing this strength to modernization efforts launched during his presidency.
