This is why the Trump-Putin summit could take place in Hungary
A future summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump could take place in Hungary.
Closing the war in Ukraine in Budapest?
The location must be carefully selected, as Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes.
Alongside Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Hungary is considered one of the few viable options due to its legal and diplomatic positioning, according to Russian media reports cited by the government-related Hungarian outlet Mandiner.
Notably, Budapest recently announced its intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the treaty that underpins the ICC, which would relieve it of obligations to enforce ICC warrants.
Everybody’s welcome here!
Hungary’s withdrawal plans were made public on April 3, coinciding with a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also the subject of an ICC arrest warrant, writes 24.hu.
The Hungarian government did not take steps to detain Netanyahu, raising concerns about the country’s adherence to international law. This precedent may signal to Moscow that Budapest would not act on Putin’s warrant either, making it a relatively safe venue for the meeting.
The potential summit in Budapest is further bolstered by Hungary’s strategic ties to both Washington and Moscow.
This dual positioning could offer a neutral ground for dialogue between the two political heavyweights, especially as Trump campaigns for a return to the U.S. presidency and Putin seeks to maintain global relevance.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy advisor, has confirmed that both the time and place of the meeting have already been agreed upon, although the details have yet to be made public.
Would Hungary profit from hosting a top tier meeting?
Speculation about the summit’s location has intensified as geopolitical tensions remain high and both leaders face increasing international scrutiny.
Hosting such a high-profile meeting could put Hungary in the diplomatic spotlight, but it may also attract criticism over its stance on international legal commitments.
Experts note that facilitating a summit between two controversial figures—both facing significant legal and political challenges—could test Hungary’s foreign policy strategy and its evolving relationship with the ICC.
Read more Hungarian government-related articles on Daily News Hungary!
Read also:
- Putin-US envoy talks bring “relief” to Central Europe, says Hungarian FM
- BREAKING: Direct flights between Hungary and the USA to resume
- Trump announces huge tariff on medicines; he could devastate the Hungarian pharma sector