EU officials see Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary as 'political nightmare' - El País
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The European Union considers it insulting that a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss peace in Ukraine will take place in Hungary, El País reports.
According to El País, the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest puts the EU and NATO in an awkward position. The leaders will discuss the Ukrainian issue in an EU country, but without the European Union's participation.
El País also notes that if European leaders do not want to upset Trump, several countries may have to grant Putin special permissions to fly through their airspace. Otherwise, he would have to take a longer route.
For example, Putin's plane is normally prohibited from flying over US territory. However, in August, he received a special permit to attend a summit in Alaska.
One European diplomat said that choosing Budapest could benefit Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán while also deepening divisions within the EU. The diplomat explained that the location was chosen carefully and could serve Russia's interests by exposing rifts within the bloc over the Kremlin. It could also give Orbán a significant boost ahead of next year's national elections.
Officials in Brussels say the Trump-Putin meeting could be useful if it helps make progress toward ending the war. Privately, however, several sources described it as a "political nightmare."
Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest
On Thursday, Donald Trump held a phone call with Vladimir Putin, with the main topic being the end of the war in Ukraine.
Following the call, Trump announced progress and said a new summit between him and Putin is planned in Budapest, Hungary. He also recently told reporters that, in his view, the meeting would take place within the next two weeks.
Media reports today highlighted a possible flight route for Putin to Budapest. The alternative path could cover roughly 5,000 km, adding three hours compared to the direct route of 1,500 km.
