Trump–Zelensky Meeting Precedes Planned Budapest Summit

Reports say President Trump urged Volodymyr Zelensky to cede parts of the Donbas during a tense White House meeting, which Trump denied, saying they discussed freezing front lines rather than surrender. The meeting came a day after Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin and preceded Trump's announcement of a planned Trump–Putin meeting in Budapest. Zelensky said he would attend a three‑way meeting if invited but insisted any deal must include Ukraine and be tied to a ceasefire, and he expressed wariness about Viktor Orbán hosting given Hungary’s pro‑Moscow stance. European leaders are divided: some see a diplomatic opening, while others say hosting Putin would be unacceptable given his ICC charges and existing sanctions. Observers note Trump’s shifting positions after the Putin call, raising doubts about whether upcoming talks can secure a just outcome that preserves Ukraine’s territorial integrity.