On August 21, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the country had twice proposed hosting talks between Russia and Ukraine, and the invitation was still valid. He affirmed that Hungary is ready to provide fair and safe conditions if chosen as a place to organize a dialogue to promote peace efforts.
The information appeared in the context of information that the White House is considering the capital Budapest as a location for a tripartite meeting, with the participation of US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Accordingly, the US Secret Service has prepared for this possibility, considering Budapest a priority choice.
In his daily Facebook podcast, Szijjarto stressed: We are happy to be able to contribute to the success of peace efforts.
However, he also denied reports that President Trump had called Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after a meeting with the Ukrainian president and European leaders. According to some sources, the content of the call is believed to be related to Ukraine's process of joining the European Union and the possibility of Budapest hosting negotiations between Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky.
Mr. Szijjarto affirmed: "I would like to clarify that there were no such calls. There is no such thing."
Meanwhile, a White House official confirmed that President Trump and Prime Minister Orban discussed the negotiation process between Ukraine and the European Union, and mentioned that Budapest could be the venue for the talks.
Hungary, a Central European country with a special geopolitical position, is emerging as a potential intermediary in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has lasted for 3 and a half years. If it does, the meeting in Budapest will be an important step, opening up opportunities for direct dialogue to find a long-term solution for the region.
