Russian Presidential Press Secretary peskov revealed to the media on October 20 that the upcoming meeting between Russian and American leaders in Budapest, Hungary, Comprehensive preparations have just begunPeskov said that before the meeting between Russian President Putin and U.S. President Trump, there are still a lot of "work lessons" to be done, and the foreign ministries of the two countries will be responsible for the preparations before the meeting.
The news was announced after Trump made a phone call with Putin on 16 November, when Trump said on social media that the two would meet in Budapest in the near future. Hungarian Prime Minister Orban confirmed the news on the same day。
At the press conference, peskov specifically explained the reasons for choosing Budapest as the meeting place. He pointed out, Trump’s relationship with Orbán is “pretty friendly” and Putin has a “constructive” relationship with Orbán.These circumstances led to a consensus reached by the Russian-American leaders at the meeting in Budapest.
As a member of NATO, Hungary holds a pro-Russian position in the EU. This unique "intermediate identity" is acceptable to both the United States and Russia. Budapest's geographical location is also convenient for Putin to travel, reducing political and security risks.
Expert analysis believes that the Hungarian government's position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has always kept a distance from the mainstream of the EU. Prime Minister Orban has repeatedly emphasized that, Hungary will prevent Ukraine from joining the EU if it harms Hungary's interests。
In preparation for the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Rubio had a phone call on October 20.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed the consensus reached in the telephone conversation between the two heads of state “Constructive Discussion”Specific measures may be taken to implement the relevant consensus.
U.S. State Department deputy chief spokesman Piaget issued a statement on the same day saying that Rubio's telephone conversation with Lavrov was discussed. Follow-up to the talks between the two presidents on Saturday.
Piaget stressed that the upcoming talks between the two presidents on the Ukraine issue are "critical" and provide an opportunity for the United States and Russia to jointly promote a lasting solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Facing the upcoming meeting between the leaders of Russia and the United States, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated through Ukrainian media on the 20th that if he is invited to Budapest, Whether the tripartite meeting, the US-Russian leaders' meeting and the US-Ukrainian leaders' meeting, he will agree.
Zelensky had previously said that during his meeting with U.S. President Trump in Washington, he raised the issue of Ukraine's participation in the Budapest meeting of Russian and US leaders. He said: "We discussed this issue. The United States will discuss this matter with Putin. I think if we really want to achieve lasting peace, we need the participation of both sides."
Asked whether Zelensky would travel to Budapest and whether the meeting of Russian and American leaders would turn into a meeting of Russian and U.S. leaders, Peskov replied: There are no details of the meeting of the Russian-American leaders.。
Russia and Ukraine have fundamental differences on the terms of the armistice. In a meeting with reporters on the 19th, Zelensky said that Uzbekistan's position on the conditions of the ceasefire has not changed. Russia demands that Ukrainian troops fully withdraw from the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Donbas. Ukraine refuses to accept。
According to the Washington Post, Putin "suggested" on Friday that as a condition for ending the conflict, Russia is willing to give up parts of Russia's controlled territory of Zaporozhye and Helsinki in exchange for Russia's full control of the Donetsk region and the Lugansk region.
Trump expressed his views on the situation in Ukraine at the White House on the 20th, saying he did not believe that Ukraine would a final victory. “They can still win, war is a strange thing, anything can happen.”
The upcoming Budapest meeting is not the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin. In August this year, Trump and Putin were in the United States Alaska holds talksBut no agreement was reached.
Compared with the Alaska meeting, the preparations for the Budapest meeting seem to be more adequate. Before the meeting in Alaska, the two sides did not make sufficient diplomatic preparations, and this time the Russian and American foreign ministers had made a phone call in advance to prepare for the leaders' meeting.
Russia's offer to meet is obviously intended Send a “diplomatic face” to TrumpIn exchange for a dialogue opportunity, which is very consistent with Trump's diplomatic preferences.
Meetings where core differences have not yet been resolved are of greater symbolic significance than substantive breakthroughs.
From the point of view of attracting attention and producing the effect of public opinion, this ‘real-person show’ diplomatic encounter is undoubtedly successful, and that’s exactly where Trump is good at.