US President Donald Trump has announced that he will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin until there is a clear possibility of reaching a peace deal regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters during his flight to Asia, Trump stated, "I’m not going to be wasting my time" on talks that do not show promise. This decision comes after plans for a summit in Budapest were scrapped due to insufficient progress in diplomatic discussions.

Despite the cancellation, a senior Kremlin representative, Kirill Dmitriev, was in Florida meeting with US officials to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Dmitriev expressed optimism, saying, "I believe Russia and the US and Ukraine are actually quite close to a diplomatic solution." He noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent acknowledgment of the realities on the ground indicates a shift towards potential negotiations.

Trump's remarks reflect his disappointment with the lack of advancement in talks, especially after he had previously described a phone call with Putin as "positive." He emphasized that future discussions would depend on Russia's willingness to compromise, stating, "We have to know that we’re going to make a deal."

In response to the ongoing conflict, the US has imposed new sanctions targeting two major Russian oil companies, aiming to increase pressure on Moscow. The European Union has also announced parallel sanctions against the Russian oil and gas sectors. While Putin has condemned these sanctions as "serious" and "unfriendly," he maintains that they will not significantly harm Russia's economy and has expressed a continued openness to dialogue.

The situation remains tense, with Trump acknowledging the deep mistrust between Russia and Ukraine, comparing it to the historical conflicts between India and Pakistan. He remarked, "There’s a lot of hatred between the two, between Zelensky and Putin, there’s tremendous hatred."

As diplomatic efforts continue, the future of US-Russia relations and the potential for peace in Ukraine remain uncertain, with Trump’s insistence on a concrete deal before any meeting with Putin suggesting that significant hurdles still exist in the path to resolution.