Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated he would be open to joining Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin at a summit in Hungary if invited. His statement comes after the U.S. and Russian presidents announced plans for talks regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, which could occur in the coming weeks.
In comments made to reporters, Zelensky remarked, 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. This conciliatory tone follows media reports suggesting disagreement characterized his recent White House meeting with Trump.
Sources revealed that discussions were heated, with the U.S. side urging Ukraine to consider ceding to some of Russia's demands for peace. Zelensky was cautious in his post-meeting briefing but stated he had conveyed to Trump that his primary goal is achieving a just peace, rather than a quick resolution.
Highlighting the necessity of a balanced negotiation process, Zelensky criticized Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, stating he would not contribute positively to discussions regarding Ukraine.
Despite hopes for securing U.S. Tomahawk missiles during the talks, Zelensky left with little assurance from Trump, who maintained a non-committal stance. The dynamics of their meeting seemed fraught with tension—Trump reportedly warned Zelensky that failure to agree to Russian terms could result in catastrophic consequences for Ukraine.
The atmosphere during the encounter, described by some as acrimonious, marks a shift in the previously more amicable relationship between Trump and Zelensky. Trump's shifting positions on the conflict and demands for Ukraine to reconsider territorial concessions further complicated matters, leaving Zelensky navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
