Hungary became the first NATO ally to secure exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy when President Donald Trump granted Prime Minister Viktor Orban a one-year waiver during their 7 November White House meeting, a White House official confirmed to Reuters.

The exemption allows Hungary to continue purchasing Russian oil and gas in exchange for over $1.4 billion in Hungarian commitments to US nuclear, defense, and energy purchases. The move marks a significant breach in Western sanctions against Russia, as Orban—who has vowed to veto Ukraine's EU accession and opposes its NATO membership—openly aligned with Trump in characterizing the war as unwinnable and positioning both leaders as the sole "pro-peace" voices in the West.

This development threatens Ukraine's strategic position because it weakens the coordinated sanctions regime designed to constrain Russian energy revenues that fund Moscow's war effort, while emboldening an EU and NATO member to maintain financial flows to Russia and block Ukrainian integration into Western security structures.

What happened at the White House

Trump welcomed Orban for a bilateral meeting and lunch that yielded immediate economic and diplomatic results.

Politico reported that Hungary signed a memorandum of understanding on civil nuclear cooperation valued at $20 billion, including construction of 10 small modular reactors in Budapest using US nuclear technology. Hungary also committed to purchasing $114 million in nuclear fuel from US-based Westinghouse, $600 million in liquified natural gas, and $700 million in defense materials.

The centerpiece of Orban's visit was securing relief from US sanctions targeting Russian energy. According to Reuters, a White House official confirmed Hungary received a one-year exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas. Trump justified the decision by citing Hungary's landlocked geography, stating "it's very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas" and noting that Hungary lacks seaports for alternative energy imports.

The exemption contradicts Trump's previous pressure on European nations to cut Russian energy purchases to economically isolate Moscow.

BBC analysis noted that Hungary and Slovakia together have paid Russia $13 billion for oil between Russia's February 2022 invasion and the end of 2024, providing critical hard currency to Moscow despite Western sanctions efforts.

Why this matters for Ukraine's security

The sanctions exemption directly undermines Ukraine's defensive capabilities by preserving Russian energy revenues that finance military operations. Russian oil and gas sales remain Moscow's primary source of hard currency for weapons procurement, troop salaries, and military industrial production—the economic foundation sustaining Russia's invasion.

More strategically, the exemption creates the first formal crack in the unified Western sanctions architecture. If a NATO and EU member can obtain preferential treatment on Russian energy, other nations may seek similar exemptions, accelerating the collapse of coordinated economic pressure that has been one of the West's primary non-military tools against Russian aggression.

The exemption also rewards Orban's obstructionism toward Ukraine within European institutions. Politico reported that Orban has declared he would veto Ukraine's accession to the European Union and opposes Ukrainian NATO membership—positions that directly contradict the policies of most NATO allies and EU members who view Ukrainian integration as essential to long-term European security.

Orban's opposition to Ukrainian victory and Western support

During the White House meeting, Orban openly expressed skepticism about Ukraine's ability to prevail militarily against Russia. When Trump asked whether Orban believed Ukraine could win the war, Orban responded evasively: "Miracle[s] can happen," according to Politico. This framing aligns with Trump's characterization of the war as unwinnable through military means and contradicts the position of NATO leadership and most European governments that sustained military aid is essential to Ukrainian defense.

Orban described the US and Hungary as the only "pro-peace" governments addressing the Russia-Ukraine war, and characterized other European nations as "misunderstanding" the conflict by believing Ukraine can prevail on the battlefield, according to the Politico report. This rhetorical positioning isolates Ukraine diplomatically by suggesting that support for Ukrainian military resistance represents a misguided approach rather than legitimate defense of sovereignty.

Trump also revived plans to host a peace summit in Budapest with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Ukraine. Last month, Orban was reportedly offered the opportunity to host such a summit, though that plan "quickly disintegrated," Politico reported. During the 7 November meeting, Trump stated: "If we have it, I'd like to do it in Budapest"—suggesting Hungary could serve as the venue for negotiations that would likely marginalize Ukrainian input and European perspectives on territorial integrity and security guarantees.

The trade package and Hungary's pivot

The economic package Hungary committed to represents a significant financial outlay designed to demonstrate reciprocity with the Trump administration. The BBC reported that the nuclear agreement includes construction of 10 small modular reactors valued between $10 billion and $20 billion, which Hungary needs to power expanding Chinese battery manufacturing plants around the country. These smaller nuclear facilities face fewer construction delays and licensing complications than traditional large-scale plants.

Hungary also agreed to purchase $114 million in nuclear fuel from US-based Westinghouse for its Paks 1 nuclear power station, which was built by the Soviet Union in the 1980s and currently supplies approximately 40% of Hungary's electricity needs, according to the BBC. The US agreement to lift nuclear sanctions on Hungary may help restart the long-delayed Paks 2 expansion project, which has been financed and designed by Russia's Rosatom but faces persistent technical and licensing obstacles.

Orban framed the visit as the beginning of "phase two" in Hungary's improving relationship with the Trump administration, referencing what he characterized as "politically motivated sanctions" from the Biden administration against his top aide, Antal Rogan, who was sanctioned for corruption allegations, Politico reported.

Implications for Western unity and Ukrainian support

The meeting creates several concerning scenarios for Ukraine and the broader Western alliance. If Trump's precedent encourages other nations—particularly those with less stable democratic institutions or closer ties to Russia—to request similar exemptions, the coordinated sanctions regime could fragment rapidly. The divergence between Hungary's position and that of other NATO and EU members will deepen existing tensions within both institutions, undermining the unified deterrence posture that underpins Ukrainian security.

The exemption complicates Congressional support for Ukraine. Congress controls military aid to Kyiv and now faces questions about backing a country while its NATO ally undermines sanctions on Russia's main revenue source. Trump's willingness to host peace talks in Budapest, paired with Orban's skepticism about Ukrainian victory, signals negotiations could pressure Ukraine into territorial concessions and forced neutrality.

The BBC noted that critics argue energy dependence on Russia is merely being replaced by energy dependence on the US, while the Orban government contends it is achieving greater diversity of supply. However, the one-year timeframe for the exemption—expiring just after Hungary's April 2026 election—suggests the waiver is designed primarily to boost Orban's domestic political position rather than address structural energy security concerns.

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Russia is aggressively recruiting hundreds of mercenaries from economically distressed Arab and Muslim-majority nations, including Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Algeria, and beyond, to fight in Ukraine, using social media platforms like TikTok to promise massive salaries and expedited Russian citizenship. However, many of these recruits, lured by offers far exceeding what they could earn at home, report being deceived about their roles and thrust onto the most dangerous front lines with little training, according to multiple media investigations and family accounts.

Russia's strategy targets global economic desperation to fill frontline gaps, sourcing fighters who, if killed, will not spark domestic political backlash or require the official compensation given to Russian soldiers.

From TikTok to the trenches

The path from the Middle East to the Ukrainian front often begins with a social media post. For 24-year-old Mohammed Imad from Iraq, his final post on TikTok in May showed him in military fatigues with smoke rising in the background, captioned "Pray for me," as reported by The Arab Weekly. His family has not heard from him since, joining a growing number of Iraqi families searching for sons who were lured to Russia by promises of wealth.

Recruiters, operating on TikTok and Telegram, target young men in countries with high unemployment, like Iraq where one in three youths is jobless. These online influencers promote a package that seems irresistible: a monthly salary of $2,800—more than four times an Iraqi soldier's pay—and signing bonuses as high as $20,000, according to the Weekly's investigation.

A mix of money and faith

The primary incentives are economic, but recruiters also leverage propaganda. One online post declared, "Give me an Iraqi soldier and a Russian weapon, and we will liberate the world from Western colonialism," the Weekly found.

For those who enlist, the promise of expedited Russian citizenship for themselves and their families is a powerful draw, as reported by Netherlands-based analytical outlet Platform RAAM. Recruiters typically assure new volunteers they will have non-combat support roles, like cooking or driving, but in reality, almost all end up on the front lines, the outlet found.

This state-backed system, which includes officials from Russia's Foreign Ministry, processes volunteers on business visas and has them sign military contracts upon arrival.

A new, strategic element of this recruitment appears to be the integration of these Muslim fighters under Chechen command. Abbas al-Munaser, a 27-year-old Iraqi who joined the Russian army in 2024, confirmed in a post that he was fighting under a "Muslim Chechen commander," according to The Arab Weekly.

This approach suggests a Russian strategy of using a shared religious identity to manage and motivate its new foreign legion, leveraging the reputation of forces led by Ramzan Kadyrov, the Head of the Chechen Republic, whose predominantly Muslim units are already active in the war.

“There is death here”

Despite the slick recruiting, the reality on the ground is grim. Al-Munaser, who posts about his experiences, warned other Iraqis: "There is death here." He described what he had seen in Ukraine as "a war of advanced technology, a war of drones," unlike the wars they had known in Iraq.

The deception is a common theme. Many recruits are promised non-combat roles like drivers or kitchen staff, but upon arrival, they are given minimal training and sent to the front, an investigation by The Insider found. Some are deployed in "meat grinder" assaults—waves of soldiers sent to attack positions without armored support.

When these foreign fighters are killed, their families often face a bureaucratic nightmare, receiving no official word. This disposable nature of foreign troops is a key strategic benefit for Moscow. "If a foreigner dies, there are no social payouts and no responsibility; there are no relatives inside Russia who are unhappy with the war; and of course, fewer dead Russians,” said Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), as reported by TVP World.

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A Ukrainian soldier severely wounded in a Russian-occupied town spent more than a month waiting for rescue, according to Ukraine's First Separate Medical Battalion. After six failed attempts and the loss of six ground drones, the seventh mission — carried out using a damaged land-based robotic system — finally brought him home alive. The battalion shared footage showing highlights of the operation, but did not specify the front sector or even the oblast where the mission took place.

33 days behind enemy lines: Seventh rescue attempt ends in success

According to the battalion, the soldier sustained a serious injury 33 days before the operation, with only a tourniquet keeping him alive. During that time, six rescue attempts failed. All used NRK—"ground robotic systems"—and all were either destroyed or rendered inoperable. Four of the six destroyed machines belonged to adjacent units.

Despite the repeated setbacks, the seventh attempt succeeded. The evacuation covered a total of 64 km, including 37 km driven with a damaged wheel. The NRK reportedly sustained a hit from an anti-personnel mine on the way to the wounded soldier but kept moving.

On the return route, a Russian drone dropped explosives on the machine. Thanks to the armored capsule it was carrying, the soldier inside was unharmed.

The entire operation lasted 5 hours and 58 minutes, with the ground drone averaging a speed of 13 km/h and reaching a top speed of 29 km/h.

The battalion confirmed the soldier was successfully evacuated and received necessary medical care. He is currently undergoing further treatment and is not in danger.

"If he didn’t surrender — we had no right to"

In a closing message, First Separate Medical Battalion noted,

“If the soldier didn’t surrender — we had no right to.”

A leaked 12-point peace proposal circulating in European capitals aims to pause Russia’s war in Ukraine within just 24 hours. RFE/RL reports that the draft, initiated by Finland and developed by over 20 pro-Ukraine countries, envisions freezing the front line, barring Ukraine from taking back occupied territories by military means, and establishing long-term negotiations on the future of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Ceasefire first: freezing the war overnight

The plan is structured in two phases — ceasefire and negotiations. The first phase outlines that hostilities would stop “24 hours after the parties have accepted this plan,” RFE/RL reports. At the start of the proposed ceasefire, the line of contact would then be frozen, with no further military movements allowed. Kyiv and Moscow would commit to a mutual nonaggression pact, meaning Russia must stop attacks while Ukraine agrees not to retake occupied areas such as the regions of Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia by military means.

Ceasefire monitoring would begin immediately under US leadership using satellites, drones, and other technologies. A Trump-chaired “Board of Peace” is proposed to oversee the process, a concept reportedly borrowed from a recent plan for Gaza.

According to RFE/RL, confidence-building measures include the lifting of selected symbolic sanctions after the ceasefire holds for an agreed period. Russia could be readmitted to international organizations such as the International Olympic Committee or the Council of Europe, which expelled Moscow in 2022. The plan also proposes transferring control of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to an unnamed third party, with negotiations on returning it to Ukraine.

Negotiation phase: security zones, occupied land talks, and Russian narratives

Once the ceasefire is in place, the second phase would begin with an armistice and formal negotiations. These talks would determine a final line of contact, which would remain in effect until a long-term governance agreement for the occupied territories is reached. RFE/RL says that civilian multinational missions would monitor both sides of the security zone established along this line, where no military activity would be permitted.

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One of the points includes undisclosed security guarantees — an element the so-called Coalition of the Willing has been shaping since spring. Another proposed element calls for a high-level dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow “to increase mutual understanding and respect for diversity of language, culture, and religion.”

A particularly controversial point involves initiating talks on “permanent governance of the occupied territories.” Many EU capitals view this as incompatible with Ukraine’s territorial integrity and oppose the idea of legalizing Russian control over parts of Ukrainian land.

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Frozen Russian assets and the question of compensation

The penultimate point in the draft addresses reconstruction. A new fund for Ukraine would be created, and frozen Russian assets could be used to finance rebuilding. As RFE/RL notes, over €200 billion (around $233 billion) are currently held in the West. These could be returned to Russia only after an agreement on war damage compensation is reached between Kyiv and Moscow.

EU official: “There won’t be peace — that’s Putin’s one-point-plan”

Despite the detailed proposal, RFE/RL quotes one European official admitting that the plan’s chances of success are “probably not much.” While some hope the United States might support elements of it, most diplomats doubt that the Kremlin will accept any of the core terms. 

“We can have a 12-point-plan, but there won’t be peace — that is Putin’s one-point-plan,” a European diplomat said.

Ukrainian forces stopped Russia’s largest autumn mechanized assault so far on 27 October, wrecking tanks and armored vehicles and striking fleeing infantry with drones near Dobropillia, Donetsk Oblast. The 1st National Guard Corps "Azov," and the Army's 33rd and 93rd separate mechanized brigades shared videos of the attack and reported the details of the failed Russian push, which involved 29 armored vehicles and lasted over six hours. Russian vehicles operated in small groups from different directions, possibly trying to adapt their infantry small-groups infiltration tactic for mechanized assaults.

The latest attempt today near Dobropillia, Donetsk Oblast, proved no different: Ukrainian forces repelled the attack and inflicted fresh losses on the enemy.

Russia throws 29 armored vehicles at Dobropillia — and fails to break through

On 27 October, Russian forces attempted a large-scale mechanized assault near Dobropillia, targeting the villages of Shakhove and Volodymyrivka, according to Azov. They reported the enemy deployed 29 armored vehicles — one of the most massive attacks of recent months — with a notable increase in the number of tanks. 

Russian troops tried to complicate Ukraine’s defensive response by advancing in small scattered groups of 4–5 vehicles, each using different routes and timings. Ukrainian forces said Russian planners relied on fog and wet conditions to hamper drone visibility and limit aerial detection.

The defenders countered with pre-prepared engineering positions, minefields, and coordinated action across military branches. Artillery units of the Armed Forces and the National Guard, along with drone system crews, played key roles in stopping the attack. The assault, which lasted over six hours, was fully repelled, Azov confirmed.

Ukrainian 33rd Brigade: split Russian attack waves, damaged BTRs, infantry hunted in forest belts

The 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade also took part in the battle. In its report, the Brigade said the Russian assault on Volodymyrivka started during a damp and gray morning and came in two separate waves. Ukrainian observers spotted at least six Russian vehicles covered in anti-drone mashes on the approach to the village.

Under artillery and drone fire, Russian vehicles dropped troops into forest belts on the outskirts of Volodymyrivka. These carriers failed to reach their intended targets. Bomber and FPV drones of the Unmanned Systems Forces and of two mechanized battalion units of the 33rd Brigade hunted the scattered Russian infantry.

Russia’s previous failed attempt to advance near Dobropillia occurred on 13 October. During that battle, Ukrainian forces destroyed nine infantry fighting vehicles, four MT-LBs, three tanks, and three motorcycles.

A planned high-stakes meeting in Budapest between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been abruptly canceled, with the Trump administration declaring it would not "waste time" on unproductive negotiations. US officials cited Russia's refusal to abandon its maximalist war aims in Ukraine as the primary reason for the collapse.

Despite the summit’s cancellation, Russia may have achieved its tactical aims. In the run-up to the event, Trump dashed the hopes of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on the delivery of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns raised by Putin that the delivery would “harm” the relationship between the USA and Russia.

The summit's collapse reveals a hardening of positions from both sides. It signals that a diplomatic end to the war remains a remote possibility as long as Moscow believes it holds a military advantage and sees no immediate, pressing threat that would force it to the negotiating table.

What led to the cancellation

The proposed talks were viewed by some as a narrow path toward de-escalating the conflict. However, preliminary discussions showed that Moscow’s fundamental goal of conquering Ukraine remains unchanged, as first reported by the New York Post.

According to reports, a key sticking point was Russia’s insistence that any ceasefire must be implemented along the current front lines—a condition viewed by both Washington and Kyiv as a de facto acceptance of Russia’s territorial gains.

The Tomahawk factor in the talks’ collapse

From the Kremlin's perspective, the incentive to negotiate appears to have evaporated. Russian officials feel less pressure to engage in talks now that the immediate threat of the United States supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine has subsided, according to the Associated Press.

Trump’s decision to halt the Tomahawks came after a two-and-a-half-hour phone call on 16 October. According to the Kremlin, Putin warned that Tomahawks “would not change the situation on the battlefield but would cause significant harm to relations between our countries.” Within days, Trump's tone shifted from threatening to send “a couple thousand Tomahawks” to saying “we need Tomahawks for the United States.”

This development removed a significant piece of leverage, pushing Moscow toward negotiations.

As the Washington Post noted, without this imminent military threat, Russia has little reason to alter its current strategy.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, assessed that the Kremlin has been waging a “reflexive control campaign” aimed at deterring the United States from authorizing Tomahawk missile sales to Ukraine. The think tank noted that Russia has 'routinely successfully delayed the provision of Western weapons to Ukraine' through similar information operations targeting previous deliveries of ATACMS, HIMARS, F-16 fighter jets, and Abrams tanks.

ISW mapped at least 1,945 Russian military objects within range of Tomahawk missiles, explaining why the Kremlin fought so hard against their delivery.

Key factors in the summit's collapse:

• Russian stance: Refusal to abandon the goal of conquering more Ukrainian territory.
• US position: Russia’s unwillingness to accept a ceasefire on the current front lines.
• Military leverage: Reduced threat of US Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine.

Official and expert reactions

The collapse of the summit has drawn swift reactions, underscoring the vast gulf between the warring sides' positions.

"Russia continues to do everything to weasel out of diplomacy—and as soon as the issue of long-range capabilities for us—for Ukraine—became less immediate, Russia’s interest in diplomacy faded almost automatically. This signals that this very issue—the issue of our deep strike capabilities—may hold the indispensable key to peace," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a defiant message on his official Telegram channel.

This sentiment was echoed by analysts who view Russia's diplomatic engagement as tactical.

"That there will likely be no Trump-Putin meeting in the near future does not change the fact that Putin’s psychological operation to disrupt the Tomahawk deliveries to Ukraine has been, so far, a success. That disruption was the only thing that actually mattered," wrote Anton Shekhovtsov, an academic and expert on Russian malign influence, on his Facebook page.

Hungarian officials remain hopeful

Despite the cancellation, officials in Budapest have expressed hope that the summit may still take place. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Hungary remains ready to host the talks, emphasizing the importance of dialogue. Similarly, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reiterated his government's commitment to peace, suggesting the door for negotiation is not completely closed.

Ukraine does not need Western help to capitulate, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on 20 October during her arrival at the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg, RFE/RL reports. She added that Ukraine has every capability to continue defending itself against Russian aggression and needs Western assistance only to strengthen that defense.

Finland: Ukraine doesn’t need Western help to surrender

Valtonen was asked about the risks linked to shifting moods of US President Donald Trump, which could indicate reduced support for Ukraine. She said the best response to this would be to strengthen Ukraine. Her comments came in light of reports that Trump allegedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to give up Donetsk oblast to Russia, including its Ukraine-controlled part, in exchange for freezing the conflict. Trump has denied making such a demand.

“The work is at a stage where everyone wants peace, and it’s clear that President Trump wants it especially strongly, because he promised it to his voters,” Valtonen said. “At the same time, it’s clear that Ukraine doesn’t need help from the West for any capitulation. On the contrary, Ukraine has all the means to continue its own strong defense, and of course, it needs our help for that.”

Valtonen emphasized that Ukraine has the means to defend itself and should be supported in doing so.

Kyiv’s growing defense industry benefits all of Europe, Finland says

Valtonen said Ukraine has shown its capacity not only for defensive struggle but also for broader transformation.

“Ukraine, in particular, has already demonstrated its capabilities. Not only does this lead to a strong defensive struggle, but, first and foremost, the country has in a few years become one of the most competitive defense sectors — one from which we all benefit,” she said.

She also stressed the need to continue the EU’s existing strategy "to strengthen sanctions against Russia’s military machine and help Ukraine not only in its own defensive struggle but also in protecting its civilian infrastructure,” Valtonen added.

Putin shouldn't be "a welcome guest" in the EU, Finnish FM says

Asked about a possible summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the EU, Valtonen said that the location and format of the meeting remain unclear. However, she added:

“It is obvious that a war criminal like Putin should not be a welcome guest at a dinner in the EU.”

On the same day, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said his country may provide Putin an air corridor to Hungary, if he heads there for a meeting with Trump.

European Union foreign ministers sharply criticized plans for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Budapest despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, exposing deep divisions as Hungary prepares to welcome the war crimes suspect for talks with US President Donald Trump.

The controversy centers on Budapest—the same city where Ukraine surrendered its nuclear arsenal in 1994 for security assurances Moscow now violates. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned against "another Budapest scenario" but would attend if included in talks with Trump and Putin. The planned summit follows August's Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin that produced no breakthrough, while Hungary's defiance of the ICC undermines European credibility on international law.

EU foreign ministers split into opposite camps on Putin's visit to Budapest

As they gathered on Monday for a meeting in Luxembourg, foreign affairs ministers of the European Union balanced between backing Trump's diplomatic efforts and upholding the International Criminal Court (ICC), which seeks Putin for the deportation and transfer of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. However, some ministers voiced sharp criticism of Putin's anticipated Budapest visit.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said at a press briefing on 20 October that “…is not nice. To see that really a person, with an arrest warrant put by the ICC, is coming to a European country." She questioned whether the Budapest summit would yield results, noting that "Russia only understands strength and only negotiates when it is really put to negotiate."

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, speaking to the press ahead of an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg, stated that a "clear message" must be sent regarding Europe's stance on Russia. He declared, “We have to hold the principles of Europe that we all agree. And the only place for Putin in Europe that's in The Hague, in front of the tribunal, not in any of our capitals."

While calling it “useful” for Americans to be able to speak with Russians, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that Vladimir Putin's presence on EU territory has a specific purpose. “But this presence of Vladimir Putin on European Union soil only makes sense if it allows for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire,” he said, according to Euractiv.

Other Western European ministers adopted more accommodating positions.

When Euractiv asked if Hungary was setting the EU’s agenda, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen replied that Budapest is “just a venue for a meeting.”

According to Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister David van Weel, there are some reservations among European leaders about the location of the meeting. “On the other hand, the most important thing is that we have a negotiating table, that we get the parties around the table,” Weel said.

Germany’s Europe Minister, Gunther Krichbaum, commented, “It’s good that such a meeting is happening,” but also warned about the danger of excluding Ukraine from any potential agreement, according to Euractiv.

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares encouraged Europeans to focus on what they can do to support Ukraine rather than "asking what others will do," Euronews reports.

The split reflects broader tensions over Hungary's democratic trajectory. In September 2022, the European Parliament declared Hungary "can no longer be considered a full democracy" in a 433-123 vote, characterizing it as an "electoral autocracy."

Hungary vows to ensure Putin's safe passage despite ICC obligations

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced, "We are a sovereign country. We will respectfully welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin, receive him as a guest and provide conditions for his negotiations with the American president."

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted on X, “The planned meeting between the American and Russian presidents is great news for the peace-loving people of the world. We are ready!”

Hungary announced its intention to withdraw from the ICC in April 2025 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also under an ICC arrest warrant, visited Budapest. The Hungarian parliament approved the withdrawal in May, but it remains technically bound by the Rome Statute until June 2026.

An ICC spokesperson told Euronews that "a withdrawal does not impact ongoing proceedings or any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective."

History haunts: Where Ukraine gave up nukes for broken Russian promises

The choice of Budapest carries bitter historical irony for Ukraine. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum, signed in the Hungarian capital, saw Ukraine surrender the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom—promises Moscow now violates through its war of aggression.

Zelenskyy told reporters on 20 October he wants to avoid "another Budapest scenario," referencing the failed security guarantees. He also said that Ukraine would agree to a meeting in Budapest provided that it would take place in a trilateral format or in a "shuttle diplomacy" format, when Trump meets separately with him and Putin.

However, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Orbán's role, doubting the Hungarian leader's ability to "provide a balanced contribution."

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