by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The United States is considering organizing a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, according to several U.S. sources familiar with the plan.
The White House has not yet confirmed the exact location of the trilateral meeting, which would also include U.S. President Donald J. Trump as mediator, saying only that it is working to identify “a suitable location” for potential talks. However, it did acknowledge that Trump had discussed the meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Hungary, which borders Ukraine, has a strained relationship with Kyiv. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly blocked or delayed new EU aid packages for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. However, he maintains close ties with both Putin and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Putin agreed—in a call with President Trump—to meet with Zelenskyy “within the next two weeks,” though no venue was officially named.
Putin’s travel options are restricted since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him. Hungary earlier announced it would withdraw from the ICC, but the move will only take effect on June 2, 2026.
HUNGARY’S ICC DEFIANCE
Hungary has already shown defiance toward ICC rulings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest on an official four-day trip from April 2–6, 2025, his first foreign visit after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest. Orbán invited Netanyahu to visit in November, just one day after the Hague-based tribunal issued the warrant.
Israel has condemned the ICC’s decision as politically motivated and antisemitic—a view echoed by Hungary’s government.
Hosting the summit would mark a diplomatic victory for Orbán, whose ruling Fidesz party faces a strong challenge from the opposition Tisza party ahead of upcoming elections expected in April next year, according to recent opinion polls. Orbán had previously said that Hungary would be prepared to mediate to end the war.
During the talks, Trump is expected to push for security guarantees for Ukraine, including defense cooperation with European allies, advanced air defense systems, and possibly a “reassurance force” to deter future Russian aggression.
However, Trump said Monday he would rule out deploying American troops to defend Ukraine from another Russian incursion, insisting that Europe must “front load” Ukraine’s security.
Additionally, ceasefire terms, territorial disputes, and closer U.S.–Europe cooperation are set to dominate the agenda, according to sources familiar with preparations. Trump has also argued that a peace deal could be signed without a ceasefire as a precondition.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Israel expanded its military campaign against Hezbollah on Monday, striking more than 70 targets across Lebanon as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to increase pressure on the Iranian-backed terror group following a sharp rise in drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel.
A federal appeals court is weighing whether Kansas City can use its public accommodation ordinance to require Christian counselors to counsel gay married couples despite the counselors’ biblical convictions on marriage and sexuality.
Tens of thousands of evangelical Christians gathered in the Netherlands for one of Europe’s largest multi-day Christian events, with organizers and participants expressing hopes for spiritual revival in the nation and across Europe.
President Donald Trump pushed back Monday against sharp criticism from Republicans and former administration officials over a potential U.S.-Iran agreement, insisting that any final accord must prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon or it will not be signed.
President Donald Trump said Monday that countries involved in negotiations over Iran should be required to join the Abraham Accords, signaling that the White House is seeking to turn a possible Iran agreement into a wider regional realignment that includes normalization with Israel.
Tensions remained high in Serbia’s capital Belgrade on Sunday after at least tens of thousands of people demanded elections and rallied against what they view as the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Aleksandar Vučić, with violence erupting after the protest and more than 20 people arrested.
Investigations were ongoing Sunday into the killing of three senior Kuki-Thadou Christian church leaders by unidentified gunmen in India’s northeastern Manipur State, Christian investigators told Worthy News.