<h3 data-start="193" data-end="261">Backtracks and U-turns: Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;Abhi Bola&ndash;Abhi Foke&rdquo; Moment</h3>
In yet another display of unpredictability, <a title="US" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/trump-tells-zelensky-it-s-time-for-a-deal/21027" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US</a> President Donald Trump has abruptly backtracked on his proposed meeting with <a title="Russia" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/putin-to-trump-russia-open-to-ukraine-settlement/21005" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian</a> President Vladimir Putin. Just a day after saying he would meet Putin in Hungary, Trump dismissed the idea as a &ldquo;waste of time&rdquo;, marking another twist in his erratic diplomatic overtures towards Moscow.
The sudden reversal comes after a phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Trump, known for his impulsive decision-making, told aides that he didn&rsquo;t want a &ldquo;wasted meeting&rdquo; &mdash; a remark that underscores growing uncertainty around Washington&rsquo;s approach to resolving the war in Ukraine.
The about-face will likely ease anxiety in European capitals, where leaders have accused Putin of exploiting diplomatic pauses to regroup militarily. Britain, France, and Germany have jointly resisted any push for Kyiv to cede territory in exchange for peace &mdash; a notion Trump floated recently, suggesting Ukraine might have to &ldquo;make a deal&rdquo;.
ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/opinion/america-s-risky-play-targeting-russia-s-power-hub/20193
Meanwhile, European nations are moving ahead with plans to channel billions from frozen Russian assets into Ukraine&rsquo;s defence &mdash; a move that could further strain relations with Moscow but signals Western resolve.
Trump&rsquo;s last face-to-face with Putin took place in Alaska in August, producing no tangible outcome. The Kremlin, too, appears in no rush, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov insisting that any future meeting would require &ldquo;serious preparation&rdquo;.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to press Washington for long-range Tomahawk missiles to strengthen Ukraine&rsquo;s hand. Interestingly, he suggested that Putin&rsquo;s renewed interest in diplomacy coincided with reports of possible US missile supplies &mdash; only for talks to fade again once that pressure eased.
For now, Trump&rsquo;s shifting stance &mdash; from promising a peace push to calling talks futile &mdash; leaves the geopolitical stage watching yet another episode of what critics dub his &ldquo;Abhi Bola&ndash;Abhi Foke&rdquo; diplomacy: bold declarations today, quiet retreats tomorrow.

Russian president Putin meet US president Trump (file photo)

A day after hinting at Hungary meet with Putin, Trump calls it a waste of time

Trump’s U-turn on Putin meet stirs confusion

A day after hinting at Hungary meet with Putin, Trump calls it a waste of time

October 22, 2025 | 05:42 IST