【By Observer News Network, Wang Yi】 The news that Russian President Putin and U.S. President Trump plan to hold a meeting in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is continuing to trigger strong reactions from European politicians. EU officials privately called it an "open humiliation" of the EU's "diplomatic status," a "political nightmare."
On October 20, Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused the EU of taking "active sabotage actions" to try to prevent the meeting. She criticized, "the belligerent Western European group" is trying to "undermine any efforts for peace," "we see various statements and provocations coming one after another."
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova IC Photo
According to Spain's El País, the EU believes that Trump and Putin discussing the Ukraine-Russia issue in Hungary, an EU member state, without inviting the EU to participate, puts them in an "embarrassing and unpleasant situation".
A European diplomat who did not want to be named also said that the meeting location was carefully chosen, "it may benefit Russia by exacerbating divisions within the EU around the Kremlin," while also helping Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán consolidate his political position.
It is worth noting that Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán has had a poor relationship with the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, with clear differences on issues such as the Ukraine issue, relations with China, and democratic issues.
The report stated that if the EU does not want to anger Trump, it may have to issue a permit for Putin's plane to fly over EU airspace, otherwise he would have to take a detour. "Politico" Europe previously mentioned that due to Russian planes being banned from flying over EU airspace, if Putin wants to reach Budapest, he must violate EU measures and risk flying over Ukraine or take a detour through the Balkans.
In public, some EU leaders claimed to welcome any dialogue that could help end the conflict, but behind the scenes, some sources described it as a "political nightmare" for the EU.
According to Reuters on the 20th, before the EU foreign ministers' meeting, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, publicly stated that Putin going to Hungary to discuss the Ukraine-Russia conflict "was not good." She said that the United States has the power to pressure Russia and bring it to the negotiating table. If they can get Russia to stop the fighting, "that would certainly be good," but this happening in Budapest "no, it's not good," "the key is whether such a meeting can really lead to results."
Kallas also said that Trump's push for peace is worth welcoming, but Ukrainian President Zelenskyy should also meet directly with Putin.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kostas Budrys and Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Väätänen took a more hard line, stating that "war criminals wanted by international courts" should not appear in Europe. The International Criminal Court previously issued an arrest warrant for Putin, although few observers think this will be an obstacle in Budapest.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that only when Putin's visit brings about "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" would it be "meaningful." Dutch Minister of Migration and Foreign Affairs David van Weel emphasized, "The most important thing is that we have a negotiation table."
Regarding the recent statements from EU diplomats, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zakharova responded on October 20 that the EU is taking "active sabotage actions" against the upcoming meeting in Budapest, "the belligerent Western European group" is trying to "undermine any efforts for peace," "we see various statements and provocations coming one after another."
She pointed out that Western European countries "obviously are trying to escalate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," which they have been doing since 2022, when they "destroyed" the Ukraine-Russia peace talks held in Istanbul, Turkey. "Russia Today" reported that according to previous statements by Ukrainian former negotiator Arakhamia, Ukraine withdrew from dialogue with Russia in 2022 after UK Prime Minister Johnson visited Kyiv and persuaded Zelenskyy to continue fighting. Johnson denied this statement.
Zakharova openly stated that the occasional "peace-seeking" statements by EU countries and Britain are just "disguises," "in fact, they are doing everything possible to escalate the situation. It is difficult to say whether they truly realize what they are doing, as there are too many non-professionals among the leadership of these Western European countries."
"Why Budapest? The answer is simple: because we are the only country in Europe that is genuinely striving for peace," Orbán said on social media on the 19th, saying that Hungary did not cut ties with Russia after the 2022 Ukraine-Russia conflict, "we have never blamed anyone, nor have we closed the channels of dialogue. Without dialogue, you cannot convince either side."
Orbán said that Hungary "has always insisted on resolving the conflict through diplomatic means," and thus became "the only EU country where a US-Russia meeting could lead to peace."
"Cooperation rather than confrontation, respect rather than labeling. This is the path to peace. Brussels has chosen to isolate itself, while we will continue to engage in dialogue," Orbán wrote.
According to RIA Novosti and the Russian newspaper Izvestia, Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov also responded on the 20th, saying, "President Trump has a friendly relationship with Prime Minister Orbán, and President Putin has a very constructive relationship with Prime Minister Orbán. This has largely contributed to the consensus we reached in our recent calls."
Regarding whether Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will attend this meeting between Russian and American leaders, Peskov said, "There are currently no details about this meeting."
On October 16, Trump posted on social media that he had a long conversation with Putin that day, discussing ending the Ukraine-Russia conflict and subsequent U.S.-Russia trade, and both agreed to hold a face-to-face meeting in Budapest.
Russian Presidential Assistant Ushakov confirmed on the 16th that Trump proposed holding a U.S.-Russia leaders meeting in Budapest, and Putin expressed support. RIA Novosti quoted Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov on the 17th, reporting that the meeting between Putin and Trump might take place within two weeks or later.
Reuters on the 17th noted, "When Putin lands in Hungary to attend the summit with Trump, it will be an embarrassing moment for the EU," "because these Ukrainian allies have been trying to isolate Russia." Hungary is a NATO member and also a member of the EU, a group that firmly supports Ukraine and isolates Russia. Irony is that in 1994, it was there that the U.S., UK, and Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum, providing security guarantees to Ukraine in exchange for Kyiv giving up its nuclear weapons.
On the 19th, Zelenskyy told an American media outlet that he is willing to attend the meeting between Trump and Putin scheduled to be held in Budapest, and has already discussed the issue with Trump. Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine is willing to start peace talks, but will not make concessions to Russia. To achieve a ceasefire and open negotiations, both sides of the conflict should remain at the current contact line.
This article is exclusive to Observer News Network. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563330885035803178/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author and readers are encouraged to express their opinions by clicking on the 【Up/Down】 buttons below.