Trump postpones meeting with Putin: Washington called it a "signal of exhaustion of illusions" - Rezazade

US President Donald Trump unexpectedly postponed a planned summit with Vladimir Putin, saying he did not want a "futile meeting".

This decision was a response to the words of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who criticized Trump's initiative for a ceasefire in Ukraine, calling it "contrary to the agreements" between the leaders in August.

According to Trump, he sees no point in the meeting while "both countries continue to kill each other". The president stressed that he calls on the parties to "move away from the front lines, go home and take a break".

Earlier, Trump instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prepare the ground for a summit with Putin. However, after a telephone conversation, Rubio and Lavrov stated at the White House that "an additional meeting is not necessary".

Moscow rejected Trump’s proposal to freeze hostilities. Lavrov called it “erroneous,” accusing Washington of “forgetting about the roots of the conflict” — Russia’s demands for Ukraine’s neutral status and refusal to join NATO.

In a joint statement, the leaders of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the EU leadership supported Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire along the existing contact line, but at the same time expressed skepticism about Russia’s readiness for real negotiations.

“Russia is once again demonstrating delaying tactics. It does not seek peace — only a respite from a new round of aggression,” said Ali Reza Rezazadeh, the first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington and an international expert.

According to the expert, Trump’s decision to postpone the meeting indicates the White House’s realization that dialogue with the Kremlin is futile under the current circumstances.

“This is a signal of exhaustion of illusions. Trump is trying to show that the US will not make concessions under pressure from Moscow, even despite the desire for a diplomatic settlement,” Rezazade noted.

He also emphasized that the position of NATO, the EU and Washington on supporting Ukraine remains consolidated, despite different approaches to the details of the peace process.

“Putin seeks to impose “peace on his terms” on the West — by freezing the front and legalizing the occupation. But this scenario will not pass. Today’s pause is a strategic demonstration of firmness, not weakness,” the expert concluded.