Political analyst Igor Reiterovich, speaking on the "Klychok Time" channel, provides an analysis of the anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest. According to Reiterovich, this is not merely a preliminary agreement between the former U.S. president and the Russian leader; the choice of city and the meeting's context carry significant symbolic and political weight.
Reiterovich highlights that Budapest, as the capital of Hungary, is closely tied to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, a document whose enforcement has raised serious concerns among the international community. Russia and the U.S. were among its signatories, and Ukraine ended up suffering the consequences. For Russia, choosing Budapest is partly an attempt to undermine international law, including the International Criminal Court, as Hungary has demonstrated reluctance to fulfill obligations related to Putin's potential arrest.
For Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, hosting both world leaders is a timely political gesture ahead of elections, where his party is trailing in the polls. The high-profile presence of Trump and Putin may strengthen Orban’s standing and help frame Budapest as a new hub for “peacemaking diplomacy”—though the outcome for Ukraine remains uncertain.
Reiterovich notes that Ukraine has agreed in principle to discuss ending the war along the current front line, as proposed by Trump, but it remains unclear whether Russia will do so—this will be a central topic during the Budapest talks.
According to the analyst, the symbolism of the city poses risks: it gives Russia the opportunity to again demonstrate disregard for the international community and seek to influence events in Ukraine through parallels with past “Minsk” agreements and peace processes. The outcome of the meeting may also affect Putin’s further ambitions to influence the EU and Orban’s position on Ukraine’s European integration.
In conclusion, Reiterovich warns not to underestimate the symbolism of the location and the political strategies of Trump, Putin, and Orban. For each, this event is chiefly a tool of politics and diplomacy.
