Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated he would be ready to participate in a proposed summit with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, set to take place in Hungary, should he receive an invitation.
The U.S. and Russian presidents disclosed their plans for talks regarding the war in Ukraine in Budapest, possibly in the upcoming weeks, during a recent announcement.
In comments made on Monday, Zelensky conveyed to the press, 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. The remark reflects a cautious optimism for dialogue amidst ongoing tensions.
Reports claim that the meeting between Zelensky and Trump mishandled discussions, characterized by aggressive exchanges, with the U.S. urging Ukraine to accept terms proposed by Russia for an end to the war.
While maintaining his commitment to a fair peace, Zelensky criticized the choice of Hungary for the summit, stressing that Prime Minister Viktor Orban could not offer any favorable input for Ukraine's interests.
Trump's comments suggested his preference for maintaining a comfortable atmosphere for all parties, though the specifics of Zelensky's involvement in the Budapest meeting remain unclear.
The Ukrainian leader, who had hoped to gain U.S. Tomahawk missiles for deep strikes into Russia, left the discussions without securing the desired military support, as Trump remained non-committal on the offer.
As tensions further escalated, it was reported that Trump warned Zelensky that Putin could destroy Ukraine if he did not comply with Russian demands, including territorial concessions, particularly concerning the Donbas region.
Despite Trump's recent shift in rhetoric suggesting Ukraine could reclaim its territories, Zelensky's stance against ceding land was emphasized during their negotiations. The ongoing conflict continues to put pressure on U.S. and international responses as the war drags on since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
