Trump’s Preference for Budapest
President Trump expressed his desire to hold any upcoming meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, a location initially chosen before the meeting was canceled.
During a lunch at the White House with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Trump stated, “I’d like to keep the meeting in Hungary, Budapest.”
He further explained that he opted against the previous meeting because he doubted it would yield significant outcomes.
While no formal meeting is on the calendar between Trump and Putin, he mentioned earlier that “there’s always a chance, very good chance.”
The discussion between Trump and Orban was anticipated to cover the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Orban visited Washington seeking exemptions from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil.
Trump remarked on Orban’s familiarity with Putin, saying, “He understands Putin and knows him very well,” adding that he believes they can work towards ending the war soon.
Orban noted that the U.S. and Hungary have a different strategy compared to Brussels and the European Union regarding ending the war; they prioritize a peace deal while EU leaders believe Ukraine can achieve victory through military means.
When asked if he thought Ukraine could win, Orban responded cautiously: “Miracles can happen.”
Trump cited Russia’s unwillingness to cease hostilities as a primary reason for canceling the Budapest meeting.
The president clarified that he does not have a definitive breaking point concerning Putin’s refusal to end the conflict. He concluded by stating, “Sometimes you have to let them fight it out.”
