Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy expresses willingness to join Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary
Europe, News, US October 21, 2025 Comments Off on Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy expresses willingness to join Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary3 minute read
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is open to joining a proposed summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary if he receives an invitation.
The two leaders announced earlier this week that they plan to hold talks in Budapest in the coming weeks aimed at addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine. In remarks released on Monday, Zelenskyy told reporters, “If it is an invitation in a format where we meet as three or, as it’s called, shuttle diplomacy… then in one format or another, we will agree.”
Reports suggest that Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday turned heated, with U.S. officials allegedly pressing Ukraine to accept Russian terms to end the war. Zelenskyy described the encounter as “frank,” emphasizing that his goal remained achieving a “just peace, not a quick peace.”
Several sources claimed the discussion escalated as Trump warned that Putin would “destroy” Ukraine if it refused to agree to Moscow’s conditions. The report also said Trump dismissed maps of the front line and suggested Zelenskyy surrender the eastern Donbas region to Russia.
The U.S. delegation was accused of echoing Russian talking points during what one source described as a “volatile” exchange.
Disagreements Over Peace Terms and Weapons
Zelenskyy reportedly sought U.S. Tomahawk missiles to strike deep into Russian territory but left Washington without a commitment. Trump was said to have maintained a cautious stance, avoiding clear promises on further military support.
The Ukrainian leader criticized the choice of Hungary as the venue for the Trump-Putin summit, saying Prime Minister Viktor Orban could not “do anything positive for Ukrainians or even provide a balanced contribution.”
When asked if Zelenskyy would be part of the Budapest meeting, Trump told reporters he wanted to “make it comfortable for everybody,” suggesting that “we’ll be involved in threes, but it may be separated.”
Evolving U.S. Position
The White House encounter came amid shifting U.S. rhetoric toward the war. Trump, who once argued Ukraine would need to cede some territory for peace, recently said Kyiv could “win all of Ukraine back in its original form.”
He attributed his changing view to a “full understanding of the Ukraine/Russia military and economic situation,” though his administration has yet to outline a concrete path toward that goal.
Despite the tensions, the U.S. president continues to pressure NATO members, China, and India to halt imports of Russian oil as part of efforts to tighten economic sanctions on Moscow.
Trump previously threatened to impose tougher penalties on Russia if Putin failed to meet deadlines to advance peace talks, though those threats have not been enforced.
A Complicated Relationship
Relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have fluctuated sharply over the past year. Their public meeting in August, alongside European leaders, was televised and widely viewed as an attempt by both sides to demonstrate unity after earlier disputes.
During his re-election campaign, Trump claimed he could end the war in Ukraine “within days,” but he has since acknowledged that resolving the conflict has proven “more challenging than any he has been involved in” since returning to office.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including most of the Donbas region. While diplomatic efforts have faltered repeatedly, the proposed summit in Budapest would mark the most direct high-level negotiation involving the U.S. and Russia since the invasion began.
Whether Zelenskyy will join the talks remains uncertain, but his cautious remarks suggest Kyiv remains wary of any agreement that could compromise Ukrainian sovereignty.
Related Articles
IRIA Exclusive
IRIA Publications
Regions
