President Donald Trump announced plans to hold a second summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, with the meeting slated to take place in Budapest, Hungary, possibly within the next two weeks as of mid-October 2025. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a long-time ally of Trump and considered Putin’s closest partner in the European Union, welcomed the announcement enthusiastically, calling it great news for peace-loving people worldwide. Orbán emphasized Hungary’s role as a pro-peace country and expressed readiness to host the summit with full hospitality.
The summit follows an earlier meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, which yielded no concrete progress on peace. The choice of Budapest is significant due to Hungary’s geopolitical stance—Orbán has opposed Western military aid to Ukraine and has maintained close ties with Russia, continuing to depend on Russian energy despite EU sanctions. Orbán’s government has also taken steps to shield Putin from legal consequences linked to an ICC arrest warrant by moving to withdraw from the court and ensuring Putin’s safe passage.
Trump described progress in his talks with Putin ahead of the planned summit and is expected to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy separately to discuss further military assistance. The Budapest meeting aims to focus on peace efforts, economic growth, and possibly ending the conflict, though the situation remains complex due to strained EU and Ukraine-Hungary relations and ongoing tensions in the region.
Viktor Orbán responded very positively to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a planned summit with Vladimir Putin in Budapest. Orbán hailed the news as excellent for peace-loving people globally and emphasized Hungary’s role as a pro-peace nation ready to host the important diplomatic event. He expressed pride in Hungary being the “only place in Europe” willing to facilitate such a meeting aimed at resolving conflicts and fostering dialogue.
Orbán highlighted Hungary’s hospitality and commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment for the summit. He framed the opportunity as a diplomatic victory underscoring Hungary’s unique geopolitical position amid the ongoing Ukraine war, especially given Hungary’s close ties to Russia and Prague’s resistance to extensive EU sanctions against Putin. Overall, Orbán embraced the summit announcement as a boost to Hungary’s international standing and a chance to influence peace efforts.
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