Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
US Considering Budapest for Putin–Zelenskyy Talks
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The United States is considering organizing a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, according to several U.S. sources familiar with the plan.
The White House has not yet confirmed the exact location of the trilateral meeting, which would also include U.S. President Donald J. Trump as mediator, saying only that it is working to identify “a suitable location” for potential talks. However, it did acknowledge that Trump had discussed the meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Hungary, which borders Ukraine, has a strained relationship with Kyiv. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly blocked or delayed new EU aid packages for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. However, he maintains close ties with both Putin and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Putin agreed—in a call with President Trump—to meet with Zelenskyy “within the next two weeks,” though no venue was officially named.
Putin’s travel options are restricted since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him. Hungary earlier announced it would withdraw from the ICC, but the move will only take effect on June 2, 2026.
HUNGARY’S ICC DEFIANCE
Hungary has already shown defiance toward ICC rulings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest on an official four-day trip from April 2–6, 2025, his first foreign visit after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest. Orbán invited Netanyahu to visit in November, just one day after the Hague-based tribunal issued the warrant.
Israel has condemned the ICC’s decision as politically motivated and antisemitic—a view echoed by Hungary’s government.
Hosting the summit would mark a diplomatic victory for Orbán, whose ruling Fidesz party faces a strong challenge from the opposition Tisza party ahead of upcoming elections expected in April next year, according to recent opinion polls. Orbán had previously said that Hungary would be prepared to mediate to end the war.
During the talks, Trump is expected to push for security guarantees for Ukraine, including defense cooperation with European allies, advanced air defense systems, and possibly a “reassurance force” to deter future Russian aggression.
However, Trump said Monday he would rule out deploying American troops to defend Ukraine from another Russian incursion, insisting that Europe must “front load” Ukraine’s security.
Additionally, ceasefire terms, territorial disputes, and closer U.S.–Europe cooperation are set to dominate the agenda, according to sources familiar with preparations. Trump has also argued that a peace deal could be signed without a ceasefire as a precondition.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Russia has sent a sanctioned cargo ship to resupply its air base in Syria, signaling that Moscow intends to preserve one of its most important military footholds in the Middle East despite the fall of longtime ally Bashar al-Assad, according to U.S. officials and satellite images reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
Israel moved another step closer to early elections after the coalition’s bill to dissolve the Knesset passed its first reading late Monday night by a vote of 106-0, with no lawmakers voting against the measure.
President Donald Trump said Monday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to halt attacks after a day of rising tensions in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened renewed strikes on Hezbollah’s Dahiyeh stronghold in Beirut if the Iranian-backed terror group continued firing on northern Israel.
A divided federal appeals court ruled Monday that the Trump administration’s policy restricting transgender military service is likely unconstitutional, delivering a legal setback to the Pentagon while leaving parts of the policy in place.
Authorities in Vietnam’s Gia Lai Province have detained two Montagnard Christians on accusations of “undermining national unity” in the latest case involving ethnic minority believers in the communist-run nation, Christians told Worthy News on Monday.
Hungary has plunged into an unprecedented constitutional and political crisis after President Tamás Sulyok refused to resign following the expiration of an ultimatum issued by Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
The U.S. Department of Justice is temporarily backing down from its plan to launch a $1.77 billion “anti-weaponization fund” after a federal judge issued a short-term restraining order.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com