Following the announcement of a potential meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Budapest, key geopolitical players—the United States, Europe, Ukraine, and Russia—have revealed their respective positions and stakes. If it takes place, the Budapest summit’s main intrigue will be the clash between fundamentally different approaches to the core nature of negotiations: US President Donald Trump, often described as a “dealmaker,” against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who prefers “prepared meetings.” The Budapest summit will also feature a battle over the very definition of “peace.”
Budapest Summit Announcement
US President Donald Trump announced a meeting with the Kremlin chief on October 16, following a telephone conversation. He stated: “We will meet in Budapest, which we have already agreed upon, to discuss whether we can bring an end to this ‘inglorious’ war between Ukraine and Russia.”
Putin’s aide, Yury Ushakov, confirmed that “representatives of both countries will immediately begin preparations for the summit, which could be organized, for example, in Budapest.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó both confirmed that Hungary is ready to host Trump and Putin.
USA: The “Immediate Halt” Card
Donald Trump positions himself as a proponent of an immediate cessation of the conflict, arguing that enough blood has been shed and money spent.
☛ Stake: A ceasefire along the front lines with both sides declaring victory.
Trump’s conditions: “Enough blood has already been spilled on a border defined by war and bravery. They must stop where they are. Let both declare victory, let history judge! No more shooting, no more deaths, no more massive and exorbitant spending. This is a war that would never have started if I were president. Thousands are dying every week—ENOUGH, RETURN HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE.”
Regarding his position on Donbas, Trump stated: “Let everything remain as it is. It is already divided now. I think 78% of the region is already occupied by Russia.” He added: “Later, they can agree on something between themselves. But for now, both sides of the conflict must stop along the front line—go home, cease hostilities, stop killing people.”
Europe and Ukraine: The “Just and Strong Peace” Card
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supported Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire but put forward a number of strict conditions.
☛ Stake: A ceasefire as a starting point for negotiations for Ukraine peace, rather than an ultimate goal.
Their conditions: “We are all united in our pursuit of a just and lasting Ukraine peace. We strongly support President Trump’s position on the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and that the current line of contact should serve as the starting point for negotiations. We remain committed to the principle that international borders cannot be changed by force.”
Tactics against Russia: European leaders have consolidated around the need for increased pressure. They stated: “Therefore, we clearly understand that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position—before, during, and after any truce. We must increase pressure on Russia’s economy and defense industry until Putin is ready for peace. We are developing measures to utilize the full value of Russia’s blocked sovereign assets so that Ukraine receives the necessary resources.”
Russia: The “Exclusion of the Nazi Regime” Card
The Kremlin’s position, articulated by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, asserts that a ceasefire under current conditions is unacceptable and would constitute a concession.
☛ Kremlin’s Stake: To prevent a ceasefire that would “solidify” the “Nazi regime’s” control over a portion of the territory.
Lavrov’s argument: “A ceasefire now would mean only one thing—that a huge part of Ukraine remains under the leadership of a Nazi regime. In this part of Ukraine, it would be the only place on Earth where an entire language is legislatively banned, not to mention that it is an official UN language and the language spoken by the majority of the population.”
Criticism of Europe: Lavrov accused Zelenskyy’s “European patrons and masters” of convincing the US to abandon a “long-term sustainable settlement” in favor of merely “stopping, and then—let history judge,” which he claimed contradicts agreements between Trump and Putin in Anchorage.
Accusation against Europe (Peskov): “Currently, Europeans are neither proponents of peace nor a force contributing to the establishment of peace through political and diplomatic contacts.”
Clash of Tactics
The Budapest summit promises to be a battle not only over territory but also over the very definition of “peace.”
☛ Trump aims for a quick, status-quo-based deal on the front lines.
☛ Europe/Ukraine utilize a ceasefire as leverage to increase pressure and secure resources (from frozen Russian assets) to achieve a just and lasting peace.
☛ Russia opposes a simple ceasefire, as it does not align with its maximalist objectives, and seeks to discredit the European position.
