"Trump-Putin meeting" canceled? Hungarian Prime Minister: Preparations are still underway

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Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán stated that preparations for a meeting between U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin in Budapest are still ongoing, despite the summit being postponed a day earlier.

On Wednesday, Orbán wrote on Facebook that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto is in Washington and preparations for the peace summit are continuing, though the date is still uncertain. "When the time is right, we will hold the meeting," he said.

According to a previous article by Wallstreetcn, after a phone call between the U.S. Secretary of State and the Russian Foreign Minister, the White House confirmed that the upcoming "Trump-Putin meeting" has been canceled. Trump bluntly said he did not want to have a "waste of time meeting," but hinted there could be more progress and said, "We will inform you in the next two days."

Sources said that the U.S. and Russia have differences regarding expectations that Russia might halt military operations in Ukraine. U.S. officials claimed that Russia's position has not moved beyond its "extremist stance" and that there has not been sufficient progress.

Summit preparations still underway

Despite the postponement, Hungary continues its diplomatic efforts. Orbán emphasized in his social media statement that Foreign Minister Szijjarto is currently in Washington for related work, showing that Budapest remains committed to facilitating this summit.

The uncertainty of the summit date reflects the complexity of current negotiations. According to China Central Television, Trump said he has not yet decided whether to meet with Putin. Trump also stated he still believes there is an opportunity for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

The core issue in the negotiations is the specific conditions for a ceasefire. According to media reports, after a "tense" meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Trump publicly called on both Russia and Ukraine to cease fire and freeze the current front lines.

This stance has received support from Ukraine and many European countries. Zelensky and the leaders of nine countries — including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy, as well as the President of the European Commission — issued a joint statement on Tuesday supporting the use of the "current contact line as the starting point for negotiations," rather than requiring Kyiv to cede more territory to Moscow.

However, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on Tuesday explicitly rejected the proposal for an immediate ceasefire, saying it contradicted the understanding reached during the previous meeting in Alaska.

Orbán's political considerations

As a long-term ally of Trump, Orbán plays a key role in facilitating this summit. According to reports, he is trailing in most opinion polls ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections, and facilitating the Trump-Putin meeting could bring him political benefits.

At the same time, Orbán maintains friendly relations with Moscow, which has worsened his standing in Brussels. The EU has been in conflict with Budapest for years over issues related to alleged democratic backsliding in Hungary, and Orbán's pro-Russia stance has further strained relations with the EU.

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