The Prime Minister of Hungary stated that the meeting in Budapest is still in preparation. He noted that the preparation is ongoing despite the pause caused by Moscow's refusal to immediately cease fire in Ukraine.
Preparation for the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest is ongoing, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated on Wednesday, October 22. It was revealed the day before that the planned summit was postponed after Moscow's refusal to immediately cease fire in Ukraine overshadowed efforts to organize peace talks.
The Summit is Postponed, but Not Canceled
"Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto is in Washington. Preparation for the peace summit continues. The date has not yet been determined. When the time comes, we will hold it," Orban wrote on Facebook.
Earlier, Trump announced that he and Putin plan to meet soon in Hungary to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the American president said he did not want to "have a meeting for nothing," but hinted at possible further steps, stating: "We will inform you in the next two days."
Kremlin: The Summit Requires Preparation
Commenting on Trump's words, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that both Putin and Trump are used to working with high efficiency, but the meeting requires preparation. "No one wants to waste time: neither President Trump nor President Putin. These are two presidents who are accustomed to working effectively with high productivity. But efficiency always requires preparation," Peskov emphasized.
Viktor Orban, who is trailing in the polls ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections, remains a long-time ally of Trump. At the same time, he continues to maintain warm relations with Moscow, which has strengthened his status as a "pariah" in Brussels after years of conflicts with the European Union, which accuses Budapest of backsliding on democratic standards.
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