Trump's Ukraine Peace Efforts Hit Roadblocks

European leaders have backed US President Donald Trump's call for a ceasefire in Ukraine based on the current front lines, but Russia has rejected the idea. The European statement, signed by 11 leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, supports Trump's position that the fighting should stop immediately and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the idea, saying Moscow is only interested in a 'long-term, sustainable peace'. Trump has been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and plans to hold direct talks with Putin in Budapest. The Kremlin has played down expectations of an imminent meeting, and the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was supposed to meet Lavrov to organize the summit, but no timings have been given.

US President Donald Trump has stated that he did not want a 'wasted meeting' with Russian President Vladimir Putin after plans for face-to-face talks about the war in Ukraine were put on hold. The White House cited differences between US and Russian proposals for peace as the reason for shelving the meeting. Trump had previously suggested that the two would meet in Budapest within two weeks, but a White House official said there were 'no plans' for a meeting 'in the immediate future'. The decision comes as key differences between US and Russian proposals for peace became clear, with Russia refusing to cease fighting along the current front line.

US President Donald Trump's peace initiatives in Ukraine and the Middle East are facing challenges. Trump cancelled a planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing a lack of progress, and Vice President JD Vance visited Israel to shore up a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump's efforts are struggling due to the complexities of the conflicts and the limitations of his approach. The ceasefire in Gaza is holding, but tensions remain high, and Hamas has used the pause in fighting to reassert its control over Palestinians in Gaza. In Ukraine, Russia has not changed its position, and the conflict remains stalled.

The Ukrainian military has carried out a 'massive' strike against a Russian chemical plant in the city of Bryansk using British Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The plant produces components used in Russian ammunition and missiles. The attack, which was carried out in coordination with the Ukrainian air force, army, and navy, successfully penetrated Russian air defenses. The use of British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles is likely to trigger new threats and condemnation from the Kremlin. The strike comes as US President Donald Trump appeared to shelve a plan to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace deal on Ukraine.

A planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest is in doubt due to Russia's rigid stance on the Ukraine war. A White House official stated that there are no plans for the two leaders to meet in the near future. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of becoming 'less interested in diplomacy' after Trump backed away from a decision on providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. Russia's refusal to budge on its demands, including control of the Donbas region, has stalled the meeting plans. The Kremlin's stance has raised concerns that Russia is not interested in stopping the fighting and is 'playing' Trump.