“I’m not going to waste my time”: Trump conditions Putin summit on Ukraine agreement
US President Donald Trump has stated he will not pursue further talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless a resolution to the war in Ukraine is within reach.”I need to know that we will reach an agreement (on the Ukraine war),” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to asia.
The President’s comments follow the indefinite postponement of a planned summit with Putin in budapest, a meeting Trump described as “very disappointing.” He had hoped for a resolution prior to progress in Middle East peace negotiations. “I’ve always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin,” Trump said.
The US imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil on Wednesday, October 26, 2025, citing a lack of progress in Ukrainian peace talks.
Western allies have increased pressure on Russia, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging the provision of longer-range weapons to Ukraine on Friday, October 25, 2025. the EU also announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector this week.
According to Reuters, the US government has prepared additional sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, potentially to be implemented if Putin dose not move to end the war. US officials have indicated support for the EU utilizing frozen Russian assets to procure US weapons for Ukraine, with internal discussions underway regarding the use of Russian assets held within the US to aid Ukraine’s war effort.
A senior US official indicated a desire for European nations to implement further sanctions or tariffs. Another source suggested Trump will likely pause for several weeks to assess Russia’s response to the October 26th sanctions.
