Trump Announces Hungarian Summit with Putin in Bid to End Ukraine War

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, in an effort to reach a breakthrough toward ending the war in Ukraine.

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The announcement follows a lengthy phone conversation between Trump and Putin, which Trump described as “very productive.” While no date has been confirmed, he said that U.S. and Russian advisors will first meet, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to lay the groundwork for the summit.

“President Putin and I will then meet in an agreed upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ war … to an end,” Trump posted on his social media platform.

Trump will first host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to discuss strategies for support, including long-range missile capabilities.

Diplomatic Ambitions Meet Skepticism

This proposed summit comes on the heels of a previous encounter between Trump and Putin in Alaska in August 2025, which ended without substantial agreement.

Critics say that this new meeting could replicate past failures if not paired with clear benchmarks and transparency.

One major test will be whether Russia is willing to agree to tangible concessions or a ceasefire. Moscow has consistently framed its war in terms of security and geopolitical demands, making any diplomatic window narrow and tenuous.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government faces intensifying Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The surge in attacks raises urgency for American assistance — especially as Zelenskyy presses for delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles and enhanced air defense systems.

Some analysts warn that granting Russia dramatic concessions in exchange for superficial de-escalation risks emboldening Moscow and sidelining Ukrainian interests. Others argue that even a negotiated pause could open space for humanitarian relief and future political negotiation.

Hungary Welcomes the Stage

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed support for the summit, confirming Hungary’s readiness to host. The choice of Budapest as location may be strategic: geographically central, politically neutral in some respects, and symbolic of bridging East and West in European geopolitics.

For now, watchers are focused on the preliminary negotiations between U.S. and Russian advisors, which could set the tone for the main summit.

In an era when diplomacy is often eclipsed by military escalation, Trump’s proposal signals renewed ambition — and risk — in wrestling the Ukraine war back into the realm of negotiation.