As Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán continue their meeting in Washington, the U.S. President once again mentioned the possibility of holding direct talks with Vladimir Putin in Budapest. He said he believes the war against Ukraine could be ended. He also noted that, in his view, the invasion would not have happened if he had been in the White House at that time.
Energy and Sanctions Pressure
Energy and security are at the center of the discussion. The U.S. previously imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft. Hungary is expected to request an exemption, given its dependence on Russian supplies. Trump acknowledged that finding alternatives is challenging for Budapest, as Hungary has no access to the sea and cannot easily reconfigure its logistics.
Could the Budapest Summit Idea Return?
Trump explained that the previous meeting with Putin did not take place because the Kremlin was not ready to end the war. However, he does not rule out that such a possibility could arise again. According to Western media, Orbán will attempt to bring this idea back into a practical discussion and is ready to propose Budapest as a neutral platform. For the Hungarian Prime Minister, this is also a key domestic political initiative ahead of the electoral cycle.
Ukrainian Context
For Ukraine, the key question remains whether Russia is actually ready to negotiate and stop the fighting. So far, there are no signs of that. That is why discussions about potential peace formats still look more political than results-driven.
Conclusion
The White House meeting shows that Washington and Budapest are discussing a wide spectrum of issues — from energy restrictions to possible diplomatic pathways to end the war. But no concrete decisions have been made yet. The Trump–Orbán conversation in Washington continues.
