Trump reiterated his request to meet with Putin.

Trump and Orban Hold Meeting at the White House

United States President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban drew attention with their meeting held at the White House. This meeting is expected to address Orban's request for an exception regarding Hungary's energy needs from Russia in light of America's calls for a boycott of Russian oil following the outbreak of the Ukrainian war.

Details of the Private Meeting

The White House press office announced that the meeting between Trump and Orban was closed to the press. However, President Trump notably took a clear stance on Russia's position during the meeting. In a statement after the meeting, he said, “I still want to talk directly to Putin”, clearly expressing his wishes on the matter.

The War in Ukraine and Relations with Russia

Trump emphasized that the main issue between Washington and Moscow was Russia's unwillingness to end the war in Ukraine. The President stated that he and Hungarian Prime Minister Orban are in constant dialogue regarding this matter, saying, “Our aim is to ensure the end of the war and create a stable ground for a solution”.

Following Their Initial Meetings in January

Trump and Orban had met face-to-face in Washington in January to ensure collaboration on various issues. This meeting provided Trump with an opportunity to strengthen relations with some leaders in Europe. Now, this is the first time the two leaders are conducting a bilateral meeting. Trump announced after signing the ceasefire agreement regarding Gaza in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, that he would hold a meeting with Putin in Budapest to achieve a similar ceasefire in Ukraine, but later announced that this meeting was canceled.