Signs point towards a possible Ukraine summit in Budapest - Consultation has taken place with the Commission regarding the draft resolution concerning the state of affairs in Ukraine.
The White House has confirmed that US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine will receive visits from his colleagues from Germany, Britain, France, Finland, and Italy this week to discuss security guarantees and their implementation. The discussions come as a potential trilateral summit between the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States is under consideration, with Budapest among possible venues.
While no confirmed date or location for a summit in Budapest has been finalized, recent talks have reflected cautious optimism. After a meeting in Washington involving President Trump, European leaders, and President Zelenskyy, Trump pledged to organize a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, who have not met in person since 2019.
The meeting of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is planned to precede the three-way meeting. Finance Minister Scott Bessent suggested that Budapest could be the location for the three-way summit, but he did not specify whether he was referring to the bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin or the trilateral summit.
The issue of security guarantees for Ukraine remains a central and sensitive issue in peace talks. Western leaders and Ukraine emphasize the need for strong security guarantees as part of any settlement following the conflict with Russia. These guarantees are expected to involve commitments from NATO countries and possibly others to assure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity post-conflict. However, the details and scope of these guarantees are still being debated and are a key sticking point in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Leavitt, a White House spokesperson, confirmed that Trump is discussing peacekeeping troops from NATO countries with both Zelenskyy and Putin. According to Ben Hodges, thousands of European soldiers would be needed for effective protection of Ukraine. However, Trump rules out US soldiers for a possible peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Hodges warned that without the deployment of thousands of European soldiers, security guarantees remain an empty shell.
The White House confirmed that Putin has agreed to a summit with Zelenskyy, but there is no clear statement from Moscow on this. There are still many open questions regarding the potential summit, including whether the Kremlin is ready for the meeting. Trump stated that he had had "very successful" meetings with both Zelenskyy and Putin, but wants to observe the meeting between them before proceeding.
A potential complication in the negotiations is the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court against Putin for the suspicion of war crimes. Leavitt stated that Trump sees a religious motivation for his efforts towards a peaceful resolution.
In sum, while a summit with the three presidents is a goal and under discussion, no confirmed date or location (including Budapest) has been finalized. The issue of security guarantees for Ukraine is actively discussed, focusing on robust Western commitments, but remains subject to complex negotiation and preparation. The potential summit presents a significant opportunity for peace, but many challenges must be overcome.
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