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Reports of an upcoming American-Russian presidential meeting have been overstated, it seems.

Just days after Donald Trump said he planned to confer with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest - "within two weeks or so" - the summit has been suspended indefinitely.

A initial get-together by the both countries' leading diplomats has been cancelled, too.

"I prefer not to have a fruitless discussion," Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday afternoon. "I don't want a pointless effort, so I'll see what happens."

• Donald Trump states he did not want a 'wasted meeting' after plan for Putin talks postponed
• Disappointment in Kyiv as President Zelensky departs White House empty-handed

The frequently changing summit is just the latest twist in Trump's efforts to mediate an conclusion to war in Ukraine – a subject of renewed focus for the US president after he orchestrated a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in the Palestinian territory.

While making remarks in Egypt recently to commemorate that ceasefire agreement, Trump addressed Steve Witkoff, with a new request.

"We have to get Russia resolved," he declared.

Nonetheless, the conditions that aligned to make a Middle East success possible for Witkoff and his team may be challenging to replicate in a Ukraine war that has been ongoing for nearing four years.

Reduced Influence

Per the lead negotiator, the crucial element to unlocking a deal was the Israeli government's move to strike representatives of Hamas in the Gulf state. It was a action that angered America's Arab allies but gave Trump leverage to compel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into reaching an agreement.

Trump benefited from a history of supporting the Israeli state since his initial presidency, encompassing his decision to relocate the American embassy to Jerusalem, to change America's position on the lawfulness of Jewish communities in the West Bank and, more recently, his support for Israel's military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

The US president, actually, is more popular among Israelis than Netanyahu – a position that provided him with unique influence over the nation's head.

Add in Trump's connections in politics and business to influential Arab nations in the area, and he had a abundant diplomatic muscle to force an agreement.

In the Ukraine war, on the other hand, Trump has significantly reduced leverage. In recent months, he has swung between efforts to strong-arm the Russian president and then Zelensky, all with little seeming effect.

The US leader has warned to impose new sanctions on Russian energy exports and to provide Ukraine with advanced missile systems. But he has also recognised that such actions could disrupt the global economy and intensify the war.

At the same time, the US leader has criticized openly Zelensky, temporarily cutting off information exchange with the country and suspending weapon deliveries to the nation - then to retreat in the face of concerned European allies who warn a Ukrainian collapse could disrupt the whole area.

The president loves to tout his skill to sit down and hammer out deals, but his personal discussions with both Putin and Zelensky haven't seemed to move the war any nearer a resolution.

The Russian president may actually be exploiting the US leader's wish for a settlement – and belief in direct negotiations - as a means of manipulating him.

During the summer, Putin consented to a summit in Alaska just as it appeared likely that the president would approve on legislative penalties backed by GOP senators. That bill was subsequently put on hold.

Last week, as reports spread that the White House was seriously contemplating shipping Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot anti-air batteries to Ukraine, the president of Russia phoned the US president who then promoted the potential summit in Hungary.

The following day, the president hosted Ukraine's leader at the executive residence, but departed empty-handed after a reportedly strained discussion.

Trump insisted that he was not being played by Putin.

"You know, I have been manipulated all my life by skilled operators, and I came out really well," he said.

But the Ukrainian leader subsequently commented on the timeline of developments.

"As soon as the matter of long-range mobility became a less accessible for Ukraine – for Ukraine – Russia almost automatically became less interested in diplomacy," he stated.

Thus, in a matter of days, the president has shifted from entertaining the prospect of providing weapons to the Eastern European country to organizing a Budapest summit with Putin and confidentially pressuring the Ukrainian president to cede the entire Donbas region – including land Russia has been unable to conquer.

He has finally decided on advocating a truce along present frontlines – something Russia has refused to accept.

On the campaign trail previously, the candidate promised that he could resolve the conflict in Ukraine in a matter of hours. He has subsequently discarded that pledge, admitting that ending the hostilities is turning out more difficult than he anticipated.

It has been a uncommon admission of the limits of his power – and the challenge of establishing a peace plan when neither side desires, or can afford to, cease hostilities.