Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his readiness to join Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin for a proposed summit in Hungary, provided he receives an invitation. This statement comes after the US and Russian presidents announced their intention to hold talks concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in Budapest, with the meeting potentially taking place in the coming weeks. Zelensky, speaking to reporters on Monday, stated, “If it is an invitation in a format where we meet as three or, as it’s called, shuttle diplomacy… then in one format or another, we will agree.”
However, reports suggest that Zelensky’s earlier meeting with Trump at the White House was tense, characterized by what some described as a “shouting match.” Sources indicate that the US delegation urged Ukraine to accept Russia’s terms for ending the war. Zelensky, while maintaining a measured tone during his press briefing, made it clear that significant disagreements persist between Ukraine and the US regarding the path to peace. He described the meeting with Trump as “frank” and emphasized his primary objective: a just peace, rather than a swift one.
Zelensky also voiced reservations about Hungary hosting the potential Trump-Putin talks, noting that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, often viewed as an ally of the Kremlin, could not make a positive or balanced contribution to resolving the conflict for Ukraine. When questioned about Zelensky’s potential involvement in the Budapest meeting, Trump expressed a desire to “make it comfortable for everybody,” adding that while they might meet separately, “the three leaders have to get together.”
Preparations for the summit are reportedly underway, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio having a “constructive” phone call regarding the matter. Earlier, Zelensky had hoped to secure advanced US missile systems during his White House visit, but it appeared he left without a firm commitment on the matter, as Trump maintained a non-committal stance.
Reports of tension at the Trump-Zelensky meeting have surfaced, with some suggesting Trump advised Zelensky to surrender territory to Putin to end the conflict. Trump himself later posted on social media, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities from both sides, suggesting that “both claim Victory, let History decide!” Zelensky responded by stating his readiness for a ceasefire but vowed not to concede any territory to the aggressor. Russia’s official position remains unchanged, reiterating demands for Ukrainian troop withdrawal from occupied territories and other conditions that Kyiv and its allies deem unacceptable.