During an official meeting at the White House, US President Donald Trump received Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, with whom he addressed some of the most sensitive issues in international politics, including the conflict in Ukraine and relations between the United States and the European Union.
Trump, opening the conference with conciliatory tones, underlined his positive relationship with European leaders, but also sent a clear message: “I have a wonderful relationship with all European leaders, but I want to tell them that they must respect Orban and Hungary.” A statement that confirms the former president’s desire to strengthen the dialogue with Budapest and to reaffirm Hungary’s role in the European scenario.
The most sensitive topic, however, was the war in Ukraine. In a moment of direct confrontation, Trump asked Orban if he believes a victory for Kiev in the conflict against Russia is possible. The Hungarian prime minister’s response was lapidary: “Well, miracles can happen”, implying that, according to Budapest, the Ukrainian chances of prevailing are extremely limited. Trump, for his part, took the opportunity to reiterate his intention to play an active role in future peace efforts. In fact, he declared that he wanted to choose Budapest as the venue for a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at discussing a possible end to the conflict: “I would like to hold the meeting in Hungary, in Budapest. If we were to do it, I would like to do it in Budapest”, said the American president while answering journalists’ questions.
Orban obtained exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas from Trump. The Hungarian prime minister said this in a press meeting at the embassy, as reported by Bloomberg. The exemption would be indefinite.
The meeting between Trump and Orban thus marks a new chapter in relations between Washington and Budapest, confirming the personal understanding between the two leaders and the common desire to review the diplomatic balance in Europe, with Hungary increasingly at the center of the international scene.