Putin and Zelenskyy Meeting Proposal Sparks Controversy
A proposed meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ignited debate over potential venues, with Hungary emerging as a possible but contentious option, reports 24brussels.
The 1994 Budapest memorandum, signed by the U.S., U.K., Ukraine, and Russia, aimed to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty in exchange for its nuclear disarmament. However, following Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine and the failure of the signatories to provide military support, these guarantees have become largely ineffective.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his close connections with former U.S. President Donald Trump and his ongoing relations with the Kremlin, has not made any public statements regarding the proposed meeting. Notably, he has maintained these ties despite the ongoing conflict stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Shortly after the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 25, 2022, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó proposed Budapest as a neutral site for discussions between Ukrainian and Russian representatives.
While Russian officials have downplayed expectations for a direct encounter between Putin and Zelenskyy, uncertainty pervades discussions around potential venues. In a recent interview, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed Geneva as a suitable location for talks, a suggestion endorsed by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis also expressed Switzerland’s readiness to host such a meeting, emphasizing that Putin would not be arrested despite an International Criminal Court warrant for war crimes.
During a surprise phone call with Trump, Putin suggested Moscow as a potential meeting site for his discussion with Zelenskyy. However, both Zelenskyy and European leaders swiftly dismissed this proposal during a subsequent multilateral meeting at the White House.
