2025 Russia–United States summit in Hungary
| 2025 Russia–United States summit in Budapest | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Hungary |
| Date | Cancelled |
| Cities | Budapest |
| Participants |
|
| Follows | 2025 Alaska Summit |
| Key points | |
The 2025 Budapest summit (also known as the 2025 Russia–United States summit in Budapest or the Trump–Putin summit in Budapest) was a proposed summit between United States president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin to take place in Budapest, Hungary. Trump had announced on October 16, 2025, that it would be held within two weeks, with the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war as the main topic of discussion.[1] He announced on October 22 that he had cancelled the meeting over Russia's refusal to back down from its maximalist claims on Ukraine.[2]
On November 7, while he was hosting the Hungarian prime-minister Viktor Orban in the White House, Trump said that a summit in Budapest could still take place.[3] Later, Orban said the summit was still on the agenda, that the meeting had been postponed, but not cancelled. On November 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia was ready to discuss with the United States preparations for the summit "if and when the American colleagues return to their proposal."[4]
Background
During Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, he promised to end the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present) on his first day in office.[5][6] In March he said that he was being sarcastic when he made the promise.[6] A meeting between Putin and Trump billed as the 2025 Alaska Summit ended without an agreement.[7]
History
On October 16, 2025, Trump, after a phone call from Putin that lasted more than two hours, announced that another summit would take place in Budapest, Hungary, within "two weeks or so".[8] On October 17, Trump indicated interest in meeting President Volodimir Zelenskyy of Ukraine in a separate meeting at the summit so that Zelensky and Putin would not meet.[9] On October 18, two senior officials familiar with the October 16 phone call said that Putin told Trump he would be willing to exchange Zaporizhzhia and Kherson for Donetsk.[10]
On October 20, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a "constructive" call that day preparing for the summit.[11] However, on October 22, Trump told reporters that the meeting had been cancelled because negotiations had stalled.[12] Trump proposed a ceasefire supported by Ukraine and European leaders to freeze the conflict on the current front line, while Russia pressed for its maximalist claims on Ukraine, including the refusal to freeze the fight along the current front line, demanding the recognition of full Russian sovereignty over the Donbas and the demilitarisation of Ukraine.[2]
On November 7, while he was hosting the Hungarian prime-minister Viktor Orban in the White House, Trump said that a summit in Budapest could still take place.[3] Later, Orban said in an interview that a large-scale peace summit in Budapest was still on the agenda, and that the meeting had been postponed, but not cancelled.[4]
On November 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia was ready to discuss with the United States preparations for the summit "if and when the American colleagues return to their proposal." He also said that Budapest would be a preferable location for the meeting between Trump and Putin.[4]
Putin's travel options
Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the European Union imposed a ban on Russian-registered aircraft, including non-scheduled flights such as Putin's Ilyushin Il-96 aircraft, prohibiting them from entering its airspace.[13] Poland announced that if his plane entered their airspace it could be forced to land and they would execute the International Criminal Court's warrant for his arrest.[14] Latvia also said that it would not permit him to fly over its territory.[15] Bulgaria announced that it would give him permission.[16]
International response
Olof Gill, spokesman for the European Commission, welcomed the summit indicating that it would bring about "lasting peace for Ukraine."[17] Far-right groups in the European Parliament welcomed the summit.[18] Lithuanian foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys said that the only place for Putin in Europe is the International Court in The Hague, before a tribunal, not in any European capital.[19] German foreign minister Johann Wadephul stated that they were in support of Ukraine's presence at the summit.[17][20] French president Emmanuel Macron and Finnish foreign minister Elina Valtonen expressed interest in joining Ukraine at the summit.[21]
See also
- February 2025 United States–Russia Summit in Saudi Arabia – Meeting between the US and Russia on February 18, 2025
- 2025 Trump–Zelenskyy Oval Office meeting – Meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and the U.S. on February 28, 2025
- 2025 Russia–United States Summit in Alaska – Meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska over Ukraine in August 2025
- August 2025 White House multilateral meeting on Ukraine – Meeting between European leaders and the U.S. president over Ukraine on August 18, 2025
- 1960 US-Soviet summit, a similar summit canceled because of a U-2 spy plane incident
- Détente – Relaxation of strained international relations by verbal communication
- Hungary and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian war
- Foreign policy of the second Trump administration § Russia and Ukraine
- United States and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- List of Russia–United States summits
References
- ^ Caitlin Wilson (October 16, 2025). "Trump says he will meet Putin in Hungary for Ukraine talks after 'very productive' phone call". BBC News.
- ^ a b Gozzi, Laura (October 21, 2025). "Trump says he did not want 'wasted meeting' after plan for Putin talks shelved". BBC News. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b Nelson, Steven (November 7, 2025). "Trump says Putin Budapest summit could be back on — as Orban floats pipeline plan to ease off Russian oil". The New York Post. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Russia-US summit in Budapest still on agenda — Hungarian PM". TASS. November 11, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ Anthony Zurcher; Tom Geoghegan (February 22, 2025). "Has Trump kept his day one promises?". BBC News.
- ^ a b Kinnard, Meg (April 19, 2025). "How Trump backed away from promising to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours". AP News. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
- ^ Tamara Keith; Franco Ordoñez; Danielle Kurtzleben (August 15, 2025). "Trump and Putin conclude talks on Ukraine touting progress, but no breakthrough". NPR.
- ^ Waldenberg, Samantha (October 16, 2025). "Trump says he will meet with Putin in Budapest to discuss war in Ukraine". CNN News. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ Constant Méheut; Zolan Kanno-Youngs (October 17, 2025). "Trump Meets With Zelensky, Making New Push for Ukraine Cease-Fire". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2025.
- ^ Birnbaum, Michael (October 18, 2025). "Putin demanded Ukraine surrender key territory in call with Trump". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ "Russia says Lavrov and Rubio held 'constructive' pre-summit call". Reuters. October 20, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Mason, Jeff (October 22, 2025). "Trump says he canceled Putin summit due to stalled negotiations". Reuters. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Varley, Len (October 18, 2025). "Putin-Trump Summit in Budapest Raises EU Overflight Questions". AeroAvian News. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
- ^ Stokols, Eli; Nerozzi, Diana (October 21, 2025). "Poland warns Russia's Putin against crossing its airspace for Trump summit". Politico. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
- ^ "Latvia would not grant permission for Putin's plane to cross its airspace in case of meeting between US and Russian presidents". The Baltic Times. October 22, 2025.
- ^ Thomas Moller-Nielsen (October 20, 2025). "Bulgaria willing to offer air corridor for Putin to meet Trump in Budapest". Euractiv. Archived from the original on October 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "EU supports Trump-Putin meet in Budapest if serves peace". Euractiv. AFP. October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ Sandor Zsiros (October 17, 2025). "EU cautiously welcomes Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest but experts remain sceptical". Euronews. Archived from the original on October 18, 2025.
- ^ MoFA RoL 2025
- ^ "Budapest is another stab at getting Putin to negotiate seriously with Ukraine, German foreign minister says". Reuters. October 17, 2025. Archived from the original on October 18, 2025.
- ^ Samy Adghirni; Jan Bratanic; Andrea Palasciano (October 17, 2025). "European Leaders Look for Ways to Sway Trump at New Putin Summit". Bloomberg News.