Russia was smug about Trump-Putin talks. Now, Moscow’s anxious
Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 15, 2025.
Alexander Zemlianichenko | Afp | Getty Pictures
Russia scrambled on Wednesday to salvage the prospect of in-person talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin after they have been unceremoniously placed on maintain.
Trump mentioned on Tuesday that he did not need “to have a wasted assembly” with Putin, which was set to happen in Hungary within the subsequent few weeks, because it turned clear that Russia opposes the concept of an instantaneous ceasefire with Ukraine.
“I do not wish to have a waste of time — so we’ll see what occurs,” Trump mentioned following a name on Monday between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov.
After the decision, Russia’s high diplomat informed reporters in Moscow that he had informed Rubio that “Russia has not modified its place” since Trump and Putin met in Alaska in August, and that whereas Moscow needed a “lasting and sustainable peace,” it was not desirous about an “instant ceasefire that may result in nothing.”
After these feedback, and with Trump seemingly pouring chilly water on the concept of assembly Putin once more, the Kremlin appeared to enter injury limitation mode, insisting on Wednesday that the dates for the summit in Budapest “weren’t set” however that preparations have been nonetheless underway.
“That is but to be accomplished. Cautious preparation is required earlier than then. Time is required for that,” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, informed reporters, in feedback translated by NBC Information.
“There isn’t any information but; it is clear that each one of that is surrounded by quite a lot of gossip, rumors, and so forth. For essentially the most half, they’re fully unfaithful. There isn’t any information but,” he added.
One other U-turn?
The suspension of talks with Russia seems to be one more U-turn from the U.S. administration, which has seesawed this 12 months over its place on Russia, the Ukraine warfare and its causes, and its potential decision.
There was greater than a whiff of smugness and schadenfreude in Moscow, and Russian state media, final week when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s personal in-person talks with Trump final Friday appeared to go badly.
Significantly after Russia had successfully undermined the talks by getting in there first, gaining Trump’s ear with a “very productive” telephone name — as Trump described it — that was held with Putin. It was throughout that decision when the leaders agreed to fulfill in particular person inside a few weeks.
Trump and his staff appeared to vacillate on their help for Ukraine after that decision, with Zelenskyy leaving the White Home the following day empty handed, with no long-range Tomahawk missiles, as requested, and considerations that it may very well be pressured to surrender occupied territory in japanese Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump gestures as he greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he arrives for a gathering on the White Home in Washington, DC, on Oct. 17, 2025.
Tom Brenner | AFP | Getty Pictures
These fears grew when Trump final weekend referred to as for the partially Russian-occupied area of Donbas, the epicenter of ongoing preventing within the three-and-a half 12 months warfare, to be “lower the best way it’s.”
“It is lower up proper now, I feel 78% of the land is already taken by Russia,” the president mentioned on Air Power One on Sunday. “They need to cease proper now on the battle traces. … Go residence, cease killing folks and be accomplished.”
Ukraine and a gaggle of European allies pushed again towards Trump’s place, warning in a joint assertion Tuesday that Russia was utilizing “stalling ways” to lengthen the warfare. Cautious of alienating Trump, nevertheless, they have been cautious to reward his efforts to convey either side to the negotiating desk.
“We strongly help President Trump’s place that the preventing ought to cease instantly, and that the present line of contact ought to be the place to begin of negotiations. We stay dedicated to the precept that worldwide borders should not be modified by pressure,” European leaders famous.
Russia blames ‘pretend information’
Now the tables have turned once more, Moscow seems to be feeling anxious, with the Kremlin insisting it’s severe about ending the warfare.
“Nobody desires to waste time. Neither President Trump nor President Putin. These are two presidents who’re accustomed to working successfully and effectively, however effectiveness at all times requires preparation,” Peskov acknowledged Wednesday.
Numerous Russian officers in Putin’s inner-circle accused media shops of spreading “pretend information” in regards to the “cancellation” of the Hungary summit in a bid to undermine it.
“Media is twisting remark in regards to the ‘instant future’ to undercut the upcoming Summit. Preparations proceed,” Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s funding envoy and CEO of the Russian Direct Funding Fund, commented on the X social community.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) and Russian Direct Funding Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev throughout a gathering with Russian Direct Funding Fund consultants and representatives of worldwide funding group at Konstantin Palace.
Mikhail Klimentyev | TASS by way of Getty Pictures
Russian overseas ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova additionally introduced an analogous argument, telling Radio Sputnik on Wednesday that an “info circus” surrounded the Trump-Putin summit.
“This complete info circus which, by the best way, they have not completed but, it is nonetheless happening: Faux leaks, self-corrections, confirmations, denials, exist to as soon as once more present informational help to Zelenskyy,” she mentioned, in feedback translated by NBC Information.
