Possible location for meeting between Putin and Selenskyj emerges
Although new Ukraine summits have been announced, unanswered questions are mounting. Among them is whether the Kremlin is even willing to hold a meeting. Meanwhile, a possible venue is emerging.
Following the announcement of new talks on Ukraine, evidence is mounting that the presidents of Ukraine and Russia will meet with Donald Trump in Budapest. The Secret Service, which is responsible for the US president's security, is already making arrangements, the website Politico reported. The Hungarian capital was suggested during a meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, according to the financial service Bloomberg.
According to previous information, the three-way meeting is planned following a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. Trump said in a radio interview that he had had "very successful" meetings with both of them, "and now I thought it would be better if they met without me." He wanted to see how the conversation went.
Despite Monday's announcement that preparations are underway for the two meetings, many questions remain – including whether the Kremlin is even willing to do so. The White House reiterated that Putin has agreed to a summit with Zelensky, but there has still been no clear word from Moscow on the matter.
When asked about a possible location for a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, Trump's press secretary simply said she didn't want to speculate. Budapest declined to confirm or deny the possibility. Putin reportedly suggested Moscow in his conversation with Trump, but the spokesperson declined to comment, citing the confidentiality of the discussions. There is an arrest warrant against Putin from the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes, making the search for a location difficult.
In a TV interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, when asked about Budapest as a location for the three-way summit, said: "It could be. But first, we have to get through the bilateral meeting." By asking which of the two meetings he was referring to, he also gave the impression that they could take place in different locations.
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