The American president and his Russian counterpart will meet again “in the next two weeks”, this time in Hungary, in order to continue negotiations to “end the war between Russia and Ukraine”, indicated Donald Trump, on his Truth Social network, this Thursday, October 16.
Their last summit, on August 15 in Alaska, ended without any concrete prospect for peace. This time, the US president said he hoped to “end this ‘ignorant’ war between Russia and Ukraine.”
The meeting will take place “at the agreed place, in Budapest,” he added without specifying the date, stressing that he will meet with Volodymyr Zelensky this Friday in the Oval Office. The Ukrainian president will be received at the White House for the third time since the Republican returned to power.
A call between Orban and Putin this Friday
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed this meeting between Russian and American leaders in his country and described it as “excellent news for people committed to peace in the world.” Adding: “We are ready!”
He also said Friday that he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the morning as host of the meeting.
Hungary, a “loyal partner”
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s closest ally within the European Union, Viktor Orban, is particularly appreciated by the American president. During the summit in Egypt on peace in Gaza, Donald Trump did not stop praising the Hungarian leader.
“We love Viktor. You’re fantastic. I know a lot of people don’t agree with you, but I’m the only one who matters. He’s a great leader,” she said.
Viktor Orban is also a fierce critic of Western support for kyiv in its war against Russia. Within the European Union, the Hungarian voice stands out, advocating cordial ties with Russia, also questioning the military aid granted to Ukraine.
The nationalist Prime Minister stated that Budapest is “the only place today in Europe where a meeting of this type can take place”, considering that Hungary is the only support for peace on the continent.
Viktor Orban, in power since 2010, stressed that his country had proven to be a “loyal partner”, which “always stood” by its friends.
A safe territory despite the arrest warrant
The Russian president, “allegedly responsible” for war crimes in Ukraine, is subject to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and his travels are restricted.
In Alaska, Vladimir Putin was in a country, the United States, that is not a member of the ICC. If Hungary still is, Viktor Orban announced that the country would withdraw. This withdrawal will take effect on June 2, 2026.
Last April, the Hungarian Prime Minister had already welcomed Benjamin Netanyahu, also the subject of an ICC arrest warrant for “crimes against humanity and war crimes committed since October 8, 2023.” Viktor Orban then refused to apply the international arrest warrant.
Between Ukraine and Hungary, tense relations
Furthermore, relations between Ukraine and Hungary are tense. In September, Volodymyr Zelensky accused Hungarian drones of entering Ukraine last month, something Viktor Orban eventually admitted, before stating that “Ukraine was not an independent sovereign state.” “This is an imperialist attempt by the West to seize land, resources and money,” he said in a televised speech.
“We will be eager to hear your opinion on the sovereignty and independence of the state once it has freed itself from its dependence on Russian energy,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to X. The latter regretted that “the Prime Minister is still drunk on Russian propaganda.”
Source: BFM TV
