Orbán Says Trump-Putin Summit Being Planned in Budapest

Orbán Says Trump-Putin Summit Being Planned in Budapest

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that he spoke with U.S. President Donald J. Trump and that preparations are underway for a potential summit in Budapest between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Orbán made the remarks during a media briefing in Budapest, describing the call with President Trump as “strategic and forward-looking.” He said both leaders agreed that a face-to-face meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents could help “advance peace and stability in Europe.”

The White House has not yet confirmed details or timing for the proposed summit. If held, it would mark the first high-level U.S.-Russia meeting since Trump’s return to office in January 2025.

While Budapest has long positioned itself as a neutral venue for East-West diplomacy, logistical and political challenges could complicate the plan. It remains unclear how President Putin would reach Hungary, a landlocked country surrounded by NATO members that are likely to deny overflight rights to Russian government aircraft.

Analysts note that the most feasible route could involve traveling first to Serbia one of the few European nations maintaining close ties with Moscow possibly via the Adriatic Sea, before entering Hungary by land.

Orbán, who has maintained an unusually warm relationship with both Trump and Putin, said Hungary is ready to “facilitate dialogue where others prefer conflict.”

However, Western officials have expressed skepticism about the practicality of organizing such a meeting amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine and Western sanctions against Moscow.