Germany is 'skeptical' about Trump–Putin talks in Budapest
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The German government is "skeptical" about the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Sky News reports.
Officials in the German government have questioned whether the talks will take place at all.
They noted that the arrest warrant for Putin issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is unlikely to be enforced by Hungary, since the purpose of the meeting is to seek a peaceful solution.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that the country will ensure Putin is able to attend the summit with Trump.
The outlet notes that Hungary is surrounded by NATO member states: Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, and Slovakia.
It also borders Serbia and Austria, as well as western Ukraine, and all countries surrounding Hungary are parties to the ICC, which issued the arrest warrant for Putin in 2023.
Trump–Putin meeting
On October 16, US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It took place on the eve of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington.
Trump called the conversation productive and announced a new meeting with Putin in Budapest. The exact date of the summit is currently unknown.
Putin’s side also confirmed the possibility of holding a summit with the US president in Budapest.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, for his part, stated that the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin is "great news for the peace-loving peoples of the world." According to him, Hungary is ready for the summit.
Additionally, Orban announced the commencement of preparations for the Trump–Putin summit.
Against this backdrop, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Putin wanted dialogue with Trump as soon as he heard about the potential transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
