US President Donald Trump said he backed out of meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin at their anticipated summit in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, arguing that the failure of current negotiations prevents the meeting from taking place.
Speaking while receiving NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said he hoped that the new sanctions imposed on Moscow would make Russian President Vladimir Putin "rational."
Trump expressed hope that the sanctions, which Washington had just imposed on Russia's two largest oil companies in response to the lack of progress in talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, would soon be lifted.
Trump added to reporters in the Oval Office while receiving the NATO chief that he believed Putin was now ready to negotiate on Ukraine.
He continued, saying: "It is time to impose sanctions on Russia, and I hope these sanctions will not last long."
Regarding the cancellation of the scheduled meeting with Putin, Trump explained: "I did not feel that holding a meeting with Putin would be appropriate, so I canceled it," noting that his talks with Putin "are always good but do not lead to any result."
Trump further stated: "I think something will be achieved or will succeed regarding Russia and Ukraine."
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