EU calls Trump-Putin summit in Budapest a diplomatic insult

EU considers Trump-Putin summit in Budapest an insult

European leaders face a difficult choice - how to respond to an initiative that could undermine Western unity

A meeting that took Brussels by surprise

Planned Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin summit in the Hungarian capital caused serious outrage in European capitals.
As he writes El País, The leaders of the European Union believe that the talks in Budapest a diplomatic insult to the EU and an attempt to bypass Brussels in the decision-making process related to the war in Ukraine.

The meeting, according to the newspaper's sources, was agreed directly between the offices of Trump and Orban, who in recent years has consistently advocated for the easing of sanctions against Moscow.

«European leaders are faced with a difficult choice: if they do not want to conflict with Trump, a number of states will have to grant the Russian dictator special permits to fly in their airspace or force him to take a longer route», - says El País.

A dilemma for European capitals

In case the meeting takes place, several EU countries will have to determine its own position on allowing Putin's plane to transit Hungary.
Diplomats warn that refusal to issue a permit could be seen by the US as a political demonstration against Trump, and the agreement could be seen as Recognition of the legitimacy of contacts with the Kremlin.

Of particular concern is the fact that the summit will be held without the participation of the European Commission or the Council of the EU, and its agenda has not yet been agreed with NATO allies.

The risk of a split in the European Union

Analysts say that the upcoming meeting could be the most serious diplomatic test for the EU after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The Baltic states, Poland and Scandinavia are against any negotiations with Moscow without Ukraine's participation, while Some Western European governments fear an open confrontation with the United States.

«This is a blow to trust within the EU and a test of European solidarity. The Budapest summit may show how deep the divisions within the bloc have become», - quotes El País one of the Brussels diplomats.

Context: Hungary as a «mediator»

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban has been actively positioning itself as a mediator between the West and Moscow in recent months.
After his visit to the Kremlin, he said that «Europe needs peace, not new sanctions».
That is why Brussels fears that Budapest could become a platform for promoting Kremlin narratives, especially if Trump supports calls for an «unconditional ceasefire».