Trump was set to hand over a Ukrainian region to Putin in Budapest: cancelled summit explained

The saying goes, “what comes easy, goes easy,” and it seems this holds true even in international politics — at least during Trump’s presidency. Just last week, everyone was talking about a meeting between Putin and Trump in Budapest this October, where they were expected to agree on peace — or at least a ceasefire.

Yesterday, however, both the Russians and the White House stated that although preparations are ongoing, such a meeting will not take place in the near future, mainly because Putin allegedly convinced Trump over the phone of something the Ukrainians are unwilling to accept.

Trump-Putin summit cancelled in Budapest
Photo: depositphotos.com

No Trump-Putin summit in the near future

Tonight, it appears there will be no diplomatic summit between the Russian and American presidents over Ukraine — neither in Budapest nor elsewhere. Let’s not even delve into how ethical it is to negotiate without inviting the main party involved (according to The New York Times, Ukraine was only invited later). It bears a bitter resemblance to the 1938 Munich Agreement, when Czechoslovakia’s fate was decided by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Britain and France together.

However, it seems the two leaders won’t meet any time soon, as Politico reports their teams — including foreign ministers — have realised that more divides than unites the two countries’ positions regarding Ukraine.

Putin Trump Alaska Budapest
In search of peace – the motto of the Alaskan meeting. Source: Anadolu / Kremlin Press Office

Putin convinced Trump, who then threatened Ukraine

The story began with a phone call from Putin last Thursday, during which the Russian president may have persuaded his counterpart that he was ready for peace. Trump, perhaps hoping for a Nobel Peace Prize, seized the opportunity following the “cheerful” days of the Gaza ceasefire and invited Putin to meet within two weeks. This caught everyone off guard — especially as Ukrainian President Zelensky was travelling to Washington that very Friday to request advanced weaponry from the Americans. In the end, no concrete agreements were made regarding those weapons.

Instead, Trump returned with a hardline stance, reportedly under Putin’s influence, trying to convince Zelensky that unless the Donetsk region was handed over to Russia, Moscow would destroy Ukraine. Despite Zelensky’s explanation that surrendering their positions would open the door for Russia to subjugate Ukraine completely — as the Ukrainian side controls a significant portion of Donetsk, including many defensive fortifications — Trump stuck to his position, while Zelensky refused to yield.

Trump Zelensky discussion in Washington
Photojournalist: Fatih Aktaş/Anadolu

Europe must win Trump back

Politico suggests European leaders will need to step up once again to “bring Trump back”. There has been precedent for this — for example, with the help of the Finnish Prime Minister — when Trump had already asked Zelensky whether he could defeat Russia and pondered whether to offer assistance. According to a Politico insider, Trump tends to repeat whatever he last heard.

  • Putin was warned: he can’t be protected in Budapest, and he faces assassination risk here

But this alone is not enough to achieve results. The Ukrainians refuse to sign their own death warrant, and most European leaders support them in this stance. Thus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov could easily state at a press conference on Tuesday that peace is impossible until the “root causes” are addressed, and that a ceasefire must be preceded by a peace agreement. According to Lavrov, Trump supposedly accepted this at the time.

Donald Trump Ursula von der Leyen tariff deal USA EU
Trump and some European leaders in the White House. Photo: Ukrainian Presidency/Anadolu News Agency

Preparations could drag on indefinitely

Lavrov also claims that a large part of Ukraine is under Nazi control, where the Russian language is banned. The Russians are also unhappy about Ukraine moving closer to NATO and the EU, as well as about Zelensky’s expired presidential mandate. Clinging to such so-called “grievances”, the summit between the two leaders could be delayed indefinitely. The fundamental issue, Politico reports, remains the Donbas, which Russia wants but Ukraine refuses to hand over.

For this reason, a White House official said there are no plans for any personal meeting between the American and Russian foreign ministers or the two presidents in the near future.

Victor Orban Donald trump Budapest peace summit Putin
“The most important thing now is to achieve peace at last. One thing is certain: it won’t depend on us Hungarians. Let’s get to work!” Photo: Orbán Viktor / Facebook

Is it all just stalling?

Several Hungarian experts suspect that Putin’s entire phone diplomacy was simply a stalling tactic to prevent Trump from transferring Tomahawk missiles, while once again sowing divisions in transatlantic cooperation. Zelensky said that the more long-range Ukrainian rockets Putin faces, the more ready Russia will be to end the war.

The Hungarian government has not yet responded to these developments. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó only posted that Trump understands Hungary’s demand for Russian oil (which he previously wanted to ban), and the Prime Minister invited people to the 23 October Peace March in several posts.

For more news about Russia, click here.

elomagyarorszag.hu

5 Comments

  1. NOTHING of the Ukraine is of OWNERSHIP by the United States of America – NOTHING.
    D. J. Trump – his “gofer” – the “gofer” of Putin’s Russia – Victor Mihaly. Orban known for his opinion position -this “right of claim” of Russia through Russia’s invasion war against the Ukraine to Hand Over land territory to Putin’s Russia – WRONG.
    The Ukraine – NO right of Trumps America nor Orban’s Hungary continuo’s in POLICY “mouthing off” seeking of an end to the Russian War on the Ukraine – to SURRENDER lands of the Ukraine to Putin’s Russia.
    D. J. Trump, a Presidency in CHAOS that same factually can be said of the Prime Ministership after (16) “in-glorious destructive years Hungary under Victor Mihaly. Orban – never, never, never advocate promote in their Political Ideas and Philosophy, their Dogma, their Ideology – that PEACE the seeking of PEACE must be inclusive of – WORKING for Justice.
    D. J. Trump – Victor Mihaly. Orban they Fear Truth.
    Globally, it grows the acceptance of these (2) two individuals and that in the Spring of 2026 in the DOWNFALL outing of Victor Mihaly. Orban – his “toxic” in culture – his “heinous” Fidesz Government the lies the fabrication of truth, the greed, the selfishness and the abuse and exploitation of millions upon millions of Hungarians the name Victor Mihaly. Orban is ingloriously DEMOLISHED.

  2. US/EU aid is being stolen by the very corrupt Ukrainian leadership.
    US/EU politicians are war profiteering.
    Zelensky just keeps throwing Ukrainian men into the meat grinder with no gains against Russia.
    Trump just wants the bloodshed to end.
    Trump proposed a cease fire holding the current battle lines and then negotiations for an end to the war.
    Ukraine has NOTHING without US support. This is the price of a proxy war. You are at the mercy of those that fund you.

  3. Who writes this joke-trump only working for a Nobel Prize thatcis a joke especially after gave it to BO three months in office- Trump just repeat what he last heard – major team of trump people have been working on an end to the killing before he took office. The biggest player in the start of the war is the EU abd they continue to screw up any chance of peace – along with zelensky, they are worthless. Europe is being daestroyed from with in, thanks to the EU.

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