Hungary has reiterated its willingness to host peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stating that Budapest is prepared to provide a fair and secure environment for such talks. The offer comes amid reports that the White House is considering Budapest as a potential venue for a trilateral summit involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, Szijjártó denied claims of a recent call between Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regarding Ukraine’s EU accession talks.

On August 21, 2025, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in a podcast on Facebook that Hungary has twice offered to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with the offer still open. “If we are needed, we are ready to provide appropriately fair and safe conditions for such peace negotiations,” Szijjártó said, expressing Hungary’s readiness to support peace efforts.

The statement follows a Politico report on August 19, 2025, indicating that the U.S. Secret Service is preparing for a possible trilateral meeting in Budapest involving Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy, with the Hungarian capital emerging as the White House’s preferred venue.

The proposal aligns with Hungary’s diplomatic stance, as Budapest has maintained relations with both Russia and Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. However, Szijjártó firmly denied media reports from August 19, 2025, by outlets including Reuters and Bloomberg, claiming that Trump called Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on August 18, 2025, to discuss Ukraine’s European Union accession talks following a summit with Zelenskyy and European leaders.

“I want to make it clear that there was no such call. There was not. Period,” - Szijjártó.

A White House official had previously indicated that Trump and Orbán discussed both Ukraine’s EU talks and the possibility of Budapest hosting peace negotiations.

Separately, Hungary responded to criticism from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who questioned Budapest’s suitability as a venue for Ukraine-Russia talks. Balázs Orbán, political chief of staff to Viktor Orbán, described Tusk’s remarks as “frustrated” and “disrespectful,” defending Hungary’s offer as a neutral effort to facilitate dialogue.

Both sides of the narrative highlight Hungary’s complex role in international diplomacy. Proponents of Budapest as a venue emphasize its neutral stance and logistical readiness, while critics, like Tusk, question Hungary’s alignment given its ties with Russia.

The White House has not confirmed Budapest as the final venue, and no official date for the proposed summit has been announced.