Washington Talks Fail: War Continues Despite High-Level Meeting

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President Zelensky’s October 17 meeting with Donald Trump failed to advance an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Once again, the U.S. administration appears more willing to rely on Kremlin promises than to take a firm stand for international law and Ukrainian sovereignty.

The Kremlin continues its cynical game—this time through yet another “call” from Putin to Trump. Once again, we observe how the rhetoric of the American president shifts following such signals. Washington’s reluctance to increase sanctions or expand military aid only prolongs the war and undermines confidence in the US’s ability to lead efforts to deter aggression.

Of particular concern is the announced meeting between Trump and the Kremlin leader in Budapest. This is not merely a geopolitical challenge—it is a blow to the EU’s sovereignty, which should not even allow a plane carrying Putin to fly over its territories.

For Ukraine, the symbolism of Budapest is especially bitter: the document once meant to guarantee our security after the abandonment of nuclear weapons has become an empty declaration, and any new peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Hungary do nothing to restore the credibility of these potential agreements.

It is clear that a significant part of the American political establishment still fails to grasp the true nature of the Russian war—as a threat not only to Ukraine but to the entire international security system.

Has Ukraine done enough to shift this paradigm? Did the Ukrainian delegation prepare alternative scenarios for the White House meeting beyond simply securing Tomahawks? These questions are largely rhetorical.

At the same time, it is worth noting that European partners are increasingly coordinating their support for Ukraine. There is hope that joint action by European allies will help maintain the necessary international pressure on the Kremlin and may even influence a recalibration of Washington’s approach.

Today, Ukraine must rely primarily on its own strengths while striving to secure maximum support from European partners.

However, the stability and predictability of US policy—especially regarding the protection of international law and pressure on the aggressor—cannot be taken for granted. To increase the chances of success, a broader range of specialists must be actively involved in shaping strategy and achieving tangible results.

As a reminder, US President Donald Trump recently had a telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. During the talks, the presidents agreed to organize a summit in Budapest. However, the groundwork for this meeting was to be provided by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

It later became known that the expected talks between Rubio and Lavrov, which were supposed to take place this week, have been postponed indefinitely. According to journalists, Washington concluded that the Kremlin’s position on the war against Ukraine has practically not changed. That is why Rubio will not advise US President Donald Trump to hold a meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Budapest.

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