Donald Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest for new Ukraine peace initiative
US President Donald Trump is planning to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest to hammer out a possible peace deal for the ongoing Ukraine war. The meeting comes after an earlier political success in Trump’s mediation of a ceasefire in Gaza, but experts have suggested that ending the Ukraine conflict will be more delicate due to global issues and complex local disputes.
Russia claims control over the enclave
Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukraine – about 116,000 square kilometers. Moscow insists that Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson are now Russian territories. Kremlin interlocutors say Putin wants Kiev to withdraw from the Donetsk corridor, which is still under Ukrainian control, a demand Ukraine has vehemently rejected.
NATO expansion is a key sticking point
At the heart of the conflict is NATO’s eastward expansion. Putin wants written commitments from Western powers to prevent NATO’s growth, especially in Ukraine. Trump has signaled that Ukraine’s NATO membership may no longer be realistic—indicating that it could pave the way for a rapprochement between the United States and Russia.
Ukraine’s security guarantee dilemma
Kiev has demanded specific international security guarantees to help it weather an unprovoked attack. Still, Western countries are wary of making binding commitments that could lead to direct conflict with Moscow. The idea echoes the 2022 Istanbul peace framework, which proposed Ukrainian neutrality in exchange for global security assistance—a commodity Kiev now views with suspicion.
Warrants, firm means, and lucrative pressure
Trump recently suggested that restoring limited U.S.-Russia trade could help bring peace. Meanwhile, European leaders are discussing whether to use 210 billion euros in frozen Russian funds to rebuild Ukraine. Moscow has denounced the move as “theft,” warning of implicit financial retaliation that could destabilize European demands.
Humanitarian issue: Reunification of displaced children
First Lady Melania Trump has begun talks with the Kremlin on the return of Ukrainian children displaced by the war. The humanitarian speeches have been seen as a hopeful sign, reflecting a certain level of trust between the United States, Ukraine and Russia.
Why Ukraine is tougher than Gaza
Peace in Ukraine is much more complicated than Trump’s success in Gaza, experts believe. Russia’s deep trade ties with China and India have alarmed Western powers, leaving Putin less pressure to compromise. Experts say peace will only come when Russia sees the continued war as too costly, economically or strategically.
What’s coming up in Budapest
After keynote speeches in Alaska, Trump and Putin are set to meet in Budapest in the next two weeks. Despite skepticism from a global audience, Trump said he wished them well. “Who would think that I brought peace to the Middle East and then I can’t do it?”
The world is now watching to see if this high-level meeting can bring an end to Europe’s deadliest war in decades.
Also Read: Trump Calls Tariffs Peace Tool After India-Iran Mix-Up
