© EPA-EFE/FAZRY ISMAIL The Trump-Putin gathering in Hungary could strain ties between Washington and its European partners.
Donald Trump's declaration that his upcoming conference with Vladimir Putin will include the pro-Russian leader of Hungary has stirred unease in European capitals, especially after the US leader seemingly took Moscow’s side regarding strategies to conclude the conflict against Ukraine.
The previous week, the American and Russian heads of state consented to convene once more in Budapest during a cordial exchange. The following day, Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to concede to Moscow, according to FT reporters.
The selection of location has provoked resentment from Kyiv and other European nations, as Prime Minister Viktor Orban has historically been a supporter of Russia and a detractor of the EU, notwithstanding Hungary's standing as a member of the European Union and NATO.
“No one is pleased. We’re simply forcing smiles, acting as though all is well,” commented one EU diplomat.
By accommodating Putin, Hungary runs the risk of infringing upon its global duties, since the International Criminal Court in The Hague has indicted the Russian president for wartime transgressions. Despite Budapest’s stated intention to leave the ICC, it remains formally obligated to adhere to its stipulations at least until next summer.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that even though preparations for the conference are yet to commence, Orban maintains “quite amiable relations with President Trump and highly productive relations with President Putin.”
Moscow anticipates the conference will “assist in progressing towards a tranquil settlement of the situation in Ukraine” and also “utilize the meeting to deliberate on mutual relations between Russia and the United States.”
A German official stated there was an “anticipation” that Orban would detail his intentions prior to the Trump-Putin meeting, potentially including a gathering between the Europeans and the US president, but added that confirmation was lacking. Concurrently, one official appended that the Russian and American foreign ministers might encounter each other in Budapest on October 30.
It was earlier communicated that Rubio and Lavrov were scheduled to converse on October 23. CNN subsequently reported the cancellation of the meeting between Rubio and Lavrov, planned for Thursday, October 23. However, Moscow asserts that no agreement existed.
