The upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U. S. President Donald Trump in Budapest could become a real opportunity to achieve peace in Ukraine. This statement was made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a message posted on social media.

According to Orban, Hungary is now the only country in Europe that still has genuine potential to facilitate peace talks between Moscow and Washington. He stressed that Brussels has distanced itself from the peace process, while Budapest remains ready to take an active role in supporting dialogue and promoting diplomatic efforts toward conflict resolution.

On October 16, Presidents Putin and Trump held a telephone conversation that focused primarily on the Ukrainian crisis. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Putin reaffirmed his commitment to a diplomatic solution and gave a detailed assessment of the current situation. The leaders also discussed the possibility of holding an in-person meeting, which, according to Ushakov, is expected to take place in Budapest.

The discussion also touched on the potential transfer of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Putin reportedly emphasized that such deliveries would not change the situation on the battlefield but could cause serious damage to Moscow-Washington relations.

For his part, Donald Trump expressed the view that a swift end to the conflict would open significant prospects for economic cooperation between Russia and the United States. He stressed the need to seek practical steps leading toward peace, underscoring the importance of direct dialogue between the two powers.

Orban’s comments highlight Hungary’s unique diplomatic stance within the European Union — a willingness to act as a mediator at a time when many other European capitals prefer to stay on the sidelines. The planned Putin-Trump meeting in Budapest, if realized, could become one of the most consequential diplomatic events of the year.