A BBC Russia expert has delivered a sharp assessment of Donald Trump’s failed attempt to broker peace in Ukraine, following the abrupt cancellation of his planned meeting with Vladimir Putin. Steve Rosenberg, the BBC’s Moscow editor, said the Russian leader “is not prepared to do what Donald Trump says”, offering a sobering reminder of the limits of the US president’s influence over the Kremlin.
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Mr Trump had announced that he would meet Mr Putin in Budapest within a fortnight to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. However, the talks were called off on Tuesday evening after Moscow rejected Washington’s proposed ceasefire deal. The US plan reportedly sought to freeze the conflict along current battle lines, an arrangement unacceptable to Mr Putin, who continues to seek full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Rosenberg said the episode highlighted that “just because Donald Trump says something is going to happen, it doesn’t mean it will happen”. He explained that for the Kremlin, the primary objective remains securing Donbas, which it views as both strategically and symbolically vital. The area still under Ukrainian control is heavily fortified, and any concession of it could give Russia a platform for further offensives in the future.
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Mr Rosenberg added that after more than three years of war and significant losses, the Kremlin believes it must at least take full control of Donbas to present the conflict domestically as a victory. When asked about the summit’s cancellation, Mr Trump told reporters: “I don’t want to have a waste of time, so I’ll see what happens.” His comment has only reinforced the perception that Moscow, not Washington, currently dictates the terms of any potential negotiation.
