Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seems to have a bold new strategy for ending the war in Ukraine: get in the room with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and potentially with former President Donald Trump, too. Zelensky, fresh off a meeting with Trump at the White House, has expressed a willingness to join peace talks in Budapest, Hungary—a location that Trump has reportedly agreed to for face-to-face negotiations with Putin.
During his NBC News interview, Zelensky emphasized that a real peace deal for Ukraine can't happen without Ukraine’s involvement. And he's absolutely right. How can you strike a deal about Ukraine without Ukraine? But, of course, that hasn’t stopped Putin from being the master of avoidance, preferring to focus on Russia's history rather than addressing the present war. It's been clear that Putin has little interest in a lasting peace—unless it fits into his own narrative.
Yet, Zelensky’s comments signal a change in the tone of the talks. He’s “ready” to engage directly with Putin, and Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, might just be the venue where this high-stakes diplomatic showdown could unfold. Orbán has long been a Trump ally and a critic of Ukraine’s position, making Budapest a fitting backdrop for such negotiations.
It’s noteworthy that Trump’s diplomatic efforts, especially in the Middle East, have been met with success. Trump believes that the recent peace in the region could help pave the way for peace in Ukraine as well. He’s set to meet with Putin in Hungary after engaging Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a team of negotiators to bring Russia to the table. The inclusion of Zelensky is critical, though—after all, Ukraine’s sovereignty is on the line, and no deal should be made without them.
But the question remains: will Putin actually agree to these talks? He hasn’t shown much willingness to negotiate seriously, and in fact, the last time Zelensky and Putin met face-to-face in 2019, the talks went nowhere fast. Putin seemed content with the lack of progress, while Zelensky, understandably, was frustrated with the process. Fast forward to today, and we’ve seen a full-scale invasion, the annexation of Crimea, and brutal fighting in the Donbass.
Still, Zelensky’s willingness to meet with both Trump and Putin signals a shift in the dynamics. It shows that he’s ready to play ball—at least as long as Ukraine’s interests are front and center. If Hungary becomes the site of these historic negotiations, the world will be watching closely.
As for Orbán’s involvement, it’s a bit of a wild card. Hungary has long been friendly to Russia, and while the country is also no stranger to conflict with Zelensky (just ask about their spat during the Argentine president’s inauguration), Orbán’s offer to host the talks shows Hungary’s positioning as a key player in this unfolding drama.
Whether this meeting leads to a breakthrough remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: If anyone can get Putin to the table, it’s Trump. And if anyone can make sure Zelensky’s voice is heard, it’s Trump, too. Peace might be closer than we think—let’s just hope it’s not another round of stalled talks.
