Why Trump made breakthrough in Gaza but can't with Putin over Ukraine

October 21, 2025

President Trump's plans for a US-Russia leadership summit with President Putin have been suspended indefinitely, with Trump citing concerns about having a "wasted meeting. " This cancellation follows a pattern of on-again, off-again diplomacy in Trump's efforts to broker peace in Ukraine after his successful Gaza ceasefire deal. Unlike in the Middle East, where Trump had significant leverage over key players, his influence in the Russia-Ukraine conflict appears limited despite various diplomatic and pressure tactics.

Who is affected

Ukrainian people and government
Russian leadership and citizens
European allies concerned about regional stability
US diplomatic and military interests
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israelis (in context of the Gaza comparison)
Hamas (in context of the Gaza comparison)
Arab allies of the US (in context of the Gaza comparison)

What action is being taken

Trump is suspending the planned Budapest summit with Putin indefinitely
The preliminary meeting between US and Russian top diplomats has been cancelled
Trump is attempting various diplomatic strategies toward Russia and Ukraine, including threats of sanctions and weapons transfers
Putin is potentially using summit promises strategically to influence US policy decisions
Trump is calling for a ceasefire along current battle lines in Ukraine

Why it matters

It demonstrates the limitations of US diplomatic influence in the Russia-Ukraine conflict
The situation highlights the difficulty in finding a peace framework when neither Russia nor Ukraine is willing to compromise
It contrasts with Trump's campaign promise to end the war quickly
It shows the different diplomatic dynamics between the Gaza conflict (where Trump had leverage) and the Ukraine war (where he has less influence)
The approach affects US relations with European allies who are concerned about regional stability

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC