Topline
President Donald Trump said Saturday the only way he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin is if he’s certain “we’re going to make a deal,” calling his most recent attempt at brokering a ceasefire in Ukraine “very disappointing.”
President Donald Trump takes a question from a reporter aboard Air Force One during a refueling stop at Al-Udeid Air Base on October 25, 2025 in Abu Nakhlah, Qatar. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Asia Saturday, “I’m not going to be wasting my time,” adding, “I’ve always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing.”
Trump made the comments after talks for a meeting between Putin and Trump in Budapest fell apart this week and the U.S. enacted new sanctions against Russian oil companies as the U.S. pressures Russia to agree to a cease-fire and work toward ending its war with Ukraine.
Trump told reporters Wednesday he “cancelled” the meeting, adding “It just didn’t feel right to me. It didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get.”
Crucial Quote
“Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations and then they don’t go anywhere,” Trump said Wednesday.
Key Background
The U.S. imposed new sanctions Wednesday against Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, and subsidiaries in which they hold a direct or indirect stake of 50% or more, barring all U.S. or U.S.-based entities and individuals from doing business with them. The Treasury Department said it was imposing the sanctions “as a result of Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.” The sanctions come as Trump’s relationship with Putin has deteriorated amid Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine and Putin’s refusal to agree to a cease-fire proposal.
Tangent
Trump pulled back his threats to send U.S. Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine after a call with Putin earlier this month in which the two agreed to meet in Budapest, and expressed confidence Putin wanted to work toward an end to the war, telling reporters, “He wants to make a deal.”
Further Reading
Trump Calls Kremlin-Proposed Tunnel Connecting Russia And Alaska ‘Interesting’ (Forbes)
Trump And Putin Agree To Meet In Budapest (Forbes)
Trump Curiously Compares Ukraine To Sports Team ‘Not Allowed To Play Offense’ (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/10/25/trump-says-hes-not-wasting-my-time-on-putin-meeting-unless-deal-is-reached-on-ukraine/
