High-Stakes Diplomacy: Trump, Putin and the Quest for Peace in Hungary -By Harold Gunatillake
Image source : reuters.com
President Trump has announced his intention to hold a separate meeting with President Putin in Hungary in the coming weeks to broker a peace agreement for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Throughout his recent presidential campaign, Trump claimed he could end the war within “day one”, though earlier efforts have not borne fruit.
When questioned by a journalist regarding whether he believed Putin was attempting to buy time, Trump replied that he had been “played” by “the best of them” throughout his life. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that Putin is genuinely committed to resolving the issue. Putin is prepared to negotiate a settlement on his own terms.
It is assumed that Putin’s proposal would involve Russia retaining control over four contested Ukrainian territories. This would put President Zelensky in a difficult, arguably untenable, negotiating position—one likely to be deeply unpopular with Ukrainians. As a result, the prospect of a productive Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary remains uncertain.
On 19 February 1954, the Praesidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union issued a decree transferring the Crimean Oblast from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
According to Ukraine’s Deep State OSINT group’s map, as of September 16, 2025, Russian forces occupied a total of 114,816 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory (44,331 square miles, approximately equivalent to the total area of the U.S. state of Ohio), constituting 19% of Ukrainian land.
Russia formally annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014 as the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol. Following the annexation, Russia militarised the peninsula and issued warnings against any external intervention.
One suggested approach to ending the conflict is for Putin to relinquish complete control of Ukrainian territory, instead accepting a 99-year lease agreement with a nominal annual fee and a clear reminder of the lease terms. Proponents argue this arrangement could be acceptable to the people of both Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, military developments continue to shape the situation. Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of striking targets more than 1,000 miles away, could reach deep into Russian territory—well beyond the range of Western munitions previously supplied to Kyiv.
Russian officials have cautioned that providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles would constitute a serious escalation. Such a move could damage Trump’s standing with Putin and potentially widen the conflict, leading to further criticism of Trump’s role.
For this reason, Trump’s apparent hesitation to provide these powerful weapons to Ukraine may be prudent.
In Washington, lawmakers from both major parties are pressing for decisive action. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) said on Thursday he was prepared to advance long-delayed legislation targeting Russia, which would impose secondary sanctions on companies aiding Russian energy production and impose heavy tariffs on nations importing Russian energy. “I think the time is right,” Thune stated. “I’m hoping we can get it scheduled.”
Friday marked Ukrainian President Zelensky’s third visit to the White House since Trump assumed office. The two leaders exchanged warm greetings, with Trump complimenting Zelensky on his “beautiful” black suit jacket. Unlike previous visits, this time Zelensky stayed at Blair House, the official residence for presidential guests across from the White House. “I’m confident that with your help we can stop this war,” Zelensky told Trump, underscoring the significance of the moment. This represented a notable shift from Zelensky’s initial meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, where he was publicly admonished for what was seen as insufficient gratitude for U.S. support.
First Lady Melania Trump has also become involved, establishing her own communication channels with Putin to support her husband’s peace efforts. Last week, she revealed that she has been conducting “back-channel” talks with the Russian president since personally delivering a letter urging him to consider the welfare of children affected by the war. According to the First Lady, eight abducted children have been reunited with their families as a result of these discussions, with more reunions anticipated.
It is important to note that in 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for both Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, citing their alleged roles in the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Trump’s meeting with Putin in Hungary represents a diplomatic strategy aimed at postponing decisive action for further consideration. In this context, Trump risks being perceived negatively if he supplies the formidable Tomahawk missiles to Zelensky; concurrently, Putin may also attribute blame to Trump. Consequently, the likelihood of him securing the Nobel Prize next year appears to be diminished.
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