U.S. President Donald Trump canceled his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, saying the timing was not right and hinting at new sanctions on Moscow over the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had canceled his planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary.

Speaking to reporters at the White House after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said:

“I canceled the meeting with President Putin because it didn’t feel right. I didn’t think we would reach the point we aimed for. That’s why I decided to cancel it. But we might meet in the future.”

Trump expressed frustration over the continued stalemate between Russia and Ukraine and suggested that additional sanctions could be imposed on Moscow’s energy sector. He highlighted new sanctions targeting Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, describing them as “very tough measures.”

“These are very heavy sanctions. We hope the war and the tensions will come to an end,” Trump said.

According to Reuters, Trump’s decision came amid a lack of diplomatic progress on Ukraine. The Guardian reported that preparations for the Budapest summit had been underway for weeks but were suspended due to disagreements over the agenda.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s office confirmed that logistical preparations were ongoing but said the meeting “could not take place as planned.”

Analysts say the cancellation underscores Washington’s growing frustration with Moscow’s actions in Ukraine and signals that direct diplomacy between the two sides remains unlikely under current conditions. (ILKHA)