Meeting on the banks of the Danube: why Trump and Putin chose Budapest

The Presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, will hold a meeting in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. This was stated by Trump following a telephone conversation between the two presidents. Why the leaders' meeting became possible in this particular European city is in the Izvestia article.

Telephone conversation between Trump and Putin on October 16

The American leader Donald Trump called the telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 16 productive and announced their meeting in Hungary.

"President Putin congratulated me and the United States on the great achievement of peace in the Middle East, which, according to him, has been dreamed of for centuries," he wrote on his page on the Truth Social network.

Also, according to the head of the United States, the Russian leader thanked First Lady Melania for her participation in the affairs of Ukrainian children living in Russia and promised to continue working together on this issue. In conclusion, Trump expressed hope for the organization of a dialogue between Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

Subsequently, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov clarified that it was the US president who mentioned Budapest as a meeting place with Putin, and Putin responded by supporting such a choice.

Putin and Trump will hold a meeting in Hungary. What is known at the moment

Why Budapest was chosen for the meeting between Trump and Putin

Budapest has a rich history and a unique cultural identity. The city is located in the center of Europe and has a well-developed infrastructure for hosting high-level international events.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto noted in August that his country supports the possible choice of Budapest as a venue for negotiations between Russia and the United States, Russia and Ukraine.

Yuri Ushakov pointed to the central geographical location of the Hungarian capital, which not only simplifies logistics for both sides, but also symbolizes the possibility of bringing two worlds closer together — east and west.

Hungary, under the leadership of Viktor Orban, is active in building relations with both the West and the East, pursues a multi-vector policy and actively promotes negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

The Hungarian Prime minister has repeatedly spoken out against the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions, called for the restoration of relations between Russia and the West and criticized the position of Vladimir Zelensky.

It is also important that 31 years ago, in 1994, it was in the capital of Hungary that the United States, Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed the Budapest Memorandum, according to which Ukraine renounced nuclear weapons and assumed obligations to adhere to neutrality.

In addition, the meeting in Hungary could be a step towards strengthening relations between Russia and the states of Central and Eastern Europe, which remain an important strategic partner for Moscow.

Hungary is also known for its diplomatic traditions and neutrality, which contributes to creating a favorable atmosphere for negotiations between world leaders. This choice reflects the approach to conducting negotiations in a format that allows for the most effective dialogue and mutual understanding.