Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the so-called Hungarian format might be the next step toward achieving peace, referring to the Budapest meeting involving Donald Trump. According to Zelensky, Trump is giving Putin another chance, and the event is taking place without representatives from the European Union, which Western media see as problematic.
Experts and European politicians do not see this initiative as entirely positive, though there are no public critical statements. The EU cannot openly oppose such a format, as that could be seen as opposing peace initiatives. For now, Western rhetoric focuses on supporting Ukraine's independence and cautions against pressuring Kyiv to make territorial concessions.
The choice of Budapest is explained by Hungary’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, while the US has traditionally not ratified the Rome Statute. Orban and Trump are leveraging this situation to strengthen their positions, especially in talks with Putin.
Ukraine insists on a ceasefire along the current front line and launching negotiations without confirming any territorial losses. Trump is interested primarily in stopping hostilities, but experts note this does not secure the return of occupied territories in the future. Europe remains vulnerable due to its reliance on Russian energy and hesitance toward harsh sanctions.
The Budapest format could become an opportunity for a new model of ending the war, but many issues remain unresolved, such as mechanisms for guaranteeing a ceasefire. Ukrainian society recognizes the challenges of returning to 1991 borders, but negotiations provide hope for stopping the fighting and enabling diplomatic talks.
