A major diplomatic storm is brewing over a high-stakes meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are planning to meet in Budapest, Hungary. Their goal? To broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
There is just one glaring problem. The leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has not been invited.
As the world watches, President Zelenskyy has made his position clear. He is ready and willing to join the talks. This development places intense pressure on Washington and Moscow. It also raises a fundamental question: Can you truly make peace without the main party involved in the conflict?
This article explores the planned Zelenskyy Trump Putin Budapest summit, and why the Ukrainian president is fighting for a seat at the table.
A New Summit, A Controversial Venue
The news of the summit was confirmed after a phone call between President Trump and President Putin. Both leaders agreed to meet in the Hungarian capital, possibly within weeks.
Budapest
The choice of location is no accident. Budapest is the capital of Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban is perhaps Putin’s closest ally within the European Union and NATO. He has also maintained a warm relationship with Donald Trump. The Kremlin has stated that Budapest was chosen specifically because of Orban’s “constructive relations” with both sides.
For many in Europe, this venue is a red flag. Orban has consistently opposed EU aid to Ukraine and has been criticized for weakening the bloc’s united front against Russian aggression. Hosting a peace summit without Ukraine present is seen by many as a diplomatic victory for Putin.
President Trump, however, appears focused on securing a deal. Following a recent (and separate) tense meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump has reportedly shifted his focus. He is now pushing for a ceasefire, potentially along the current front lines. This new summit with Putin is seen as the primary vehicle to achieve that goal.
“Nothing About Ukraine Without Ukraine” is Zelenskyy’s opinion.
President Zelenskyy was not left guessing. In remarks to reporters on Monday, October 20, 2025, he directly addressed the situation.
He confirmed he is ready to participate if invited.
“If I am invited to Budapest,” Zelenskyy stated, “If it is an invitation in a format where we meet as three… then in one format or another, we will agree.”
He also left the door open for “shuttle diplomacy.” This would mean President Trump meets with Putin and then meets with Zelenskyy separately. The key principle for Kyiv is that they must be involved. The idea of two great powers deciding the fate of his nation is a historical nightmare for Ukraine.
The Host’s Doubt
Like other European leaders, Zelenskyy voiced deep concern about the choice of Budapest. He expressed doubt that Prime Minister Orban, who “blocks Ukraine everywhere,” could provide a “balanced contribution” to the talks.
The location is symbolic in another painful way. Zelenskyy warned against a “Budapest scenario.” This is a direct reference to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. In that agreement, Ukraine famously gave up its nuclear arsenal. In exchange, Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. gave it “security assurances.”
Those assurances proved worthless when Russia invaded. For Zelenskyy, the city’s name is a reminder of past betrayals. He is signaling that he will not accept another empty promise.
The Tense Background: A difficult White House Visit
To understand why Zelenskyy is being excluded, we must look at last week’s meetings. President Zelenskyy visited the White House on Friday, October 17, 2025. He went there with a clear request: long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. Ukraine believes these weapons are necessary to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
According to numerous reports, the meeting did not go well.
It was described as “tense,” with some sources claiming it descended into a “shouting match.” President Trump reportedly pushed Zelenskyy to accept a deal with Russia, warning that Ukraine could not win back its territory.
President Trump had apparently just spoken to Vladimir Putin by phone. After that call, Trump’s willingness to supply the Tomahawks vanished. Instead, he began urging Ukraine to “freeze the current battle lines.”
Zelenskyy left Washington empty-handed. Days later, the announcement of the Trump-Putin Summit landed like a bombshell. It suggested that Trump had decided to negotiate directly with Putin, bypassing Kyiv.
Why Is This Potential Summit So Dangerous for Ukraine?
The Zelenskyy Trump Putin Budapest summit (or rather, the Trump-Putin summit) is controversial for three main reasons:
- Exclusion: The most obvious issue is the exclusion of Ukraine. It reinforces a narrative that this is a proxy war between Russia and the U.S. It risks turning Ukraine into a pawn on a geopolitical chessboard, not a sovereign nation defending its existence.
- Pressure to Concede: Without Zelenskyy in the room, any “peace deal” would likely be drafted on Russian terms. This could involve formalizing the loss of Ukrainian territory in exchange for a simple end to the fighting. Zelenskyy would then be pressured to accept this “deal” or be blamed for continuing the war.
- Undermining Allies: The move has deeply unsettled European allies. Many EU and NATO countries have spent billions supporting Ukraine. A bilateral deal between Trump and Putin, negotiated over the heads of both Ukraine and the EU, could fracture the Western alliance.
European officials have expressed their concern. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stated that pressuring Ukraine is “not the right approach.” She welcomed peace efforts but noted, “We all support President Trump’s efforts… but Putin will only negotiate seriously if he thinks he is losing.”
What Happens Next?
President Zelenskyy is not waiting by the phone. He is launching his own diplomatic offensive.
Immediately following the news, he scheduled a visit to London. He is also in close contact with other European leaders. His goal is to build a “coalition of the willing” to ensure that Ukraine’s own peace formula remains the basis for any negotiations.
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The world is now watching three key players:
- Donald Trump: Will he respond to the criticism and invite Zelenskyy? Or will he proceed with Putin alone, believing he can force a deal?
- Vladimir Putin: The Russian leader has his ideal scenario: a one-on-one meeting with the U.S. president in a friendly capital. He has little incentive to invite Zelenskyy, whom he has refused to meet.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Can he rally enough international support to make a meeting without him impossible?
The coming days will be critical. The fate of the Zelenskyy Trump Putin Budapest summit is not just about an invitation. It’s about whether Ukraine will have a voice in its own future or if that future will be decided for them.
Frequently asked questions:
1. What is the Budapest summit?
It is a proposed meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting in Budapest, Hungary.
The stated goal is to negotiate a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
2. Is the summit inviting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy?
The U.S. and Russian leaders plan to hold bilateral talks, but they have not invited President Zelenskyy yet.
3. What has President Zelenskyy said about attending?
President Zelenskyy has publicly stated that he is ready and willing to join the summit if he receives an invitation. He said he would agree to a three-way meeting or “shuttle diplomacy,” where President Trump would meet with him and Putin separately.
4. Why is the choice of Budapest controversial?
Prime Minister Viktor Orban leads Hungary, whose capital is Budapest, and he is considered Putin’s closest ally in the EU. President Zelenskyy and other European leaders have expressed concern that the venue is not a neutral or balanced location for these talks.
5. Why is this news significant?
It suggests a major diplomatic shift where the U.S. and Russia might negotiate the fate of the war without Ukraine’s direct participation. This follows a reportedly tense White House meeting where President Trump allegedly pressured President Zelenskyy to accept a deal.
