KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would be willing to join U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a proposed peace summit in Hungary, even as tensions surfaced following his recent meeting with Trump in Washington.
The U.S. and Russian leaders last week announced plans to hold talks in Budapest “in the coming weeks” to discuss the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Monday, Zelensky said he would participate if invited, suggesting he was open to what he called a “three-way” or “shuttle diplomacy” format.
“If it is an invitation in a format where we meet as three or, as it’s called, shuttle diplomacy… then in one format or another, we will agree,” he said.
However, Zelensky appeared to question Hungary’s role as a host, saying Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could not “do anything positive for Ukrainians or even provide a balanced contribution.”
‘Frank’ but Fractious Meeting with Trump
Zelensky’s remarks came days after reports of a heated exchange during his meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday.
According to the Financial Times, the talks reportedly descended into a “shouting match,” with Trump allegedly urging Ukraine to accept Russia’s conditions for ending the war.
Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said Trump warned Zelensky that Putin would “destroy” Ukraine if he refused to agree to Moscow’s terms.
The report also claimed the U.S. president dismissed maps of the frontlines and insisted Kyiv surrender the entire Donbas region to Russia.
Zelensky declined to confirm the details but described the talks as “frank,” saying he had made clear to Trump that Ukraine’s goal was a just peace, not a quick peace.
“We need peace that respects our sovereignty and our people’s sacrifices,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky had reportedly hoped to secure U.S. Tomahawk missiles during the visit to enhance Ukraine’s long-range strike capability, but Trump appeared non-committal.
When asked whether Zelensky would join the Budapest talks, Trump told reporters he wanted to “make it comfortable for everybody.”
“We’ll be involved in threes, but it may be separated,” Trump said, adding that the three leaders “have to get together.”
Shifting U.S. Position
The developments come amid apparent shifts in Trump’s approach to the war. Just last month, he suggested Kyiv could still “win all of Ukraine back in its original form,” marking a departure from his earlier stance that peace might require Ukraine to cede some territory.
Trump has also urged NATO allies, China, and India to cut oil imports from Russia to increase economic pressure on Moscow but has so far stopped short of introducing new sanctions.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite repeated calls for negotiations, Zelensky has insisted that no peace deal can include the loss of Ukrainian territory.
