Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday in Washington, DC, to discuss the planned peace summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary. According to Szijjártó, ‘it is clear that the US has not given up holding the Budapest Peace Summit,’ confirming that preparations are still under way.
‘The only question is timing, not intention,’ Szijjártó emphasized, calling it ‘bad news for the pro-war lobby and good news for those who want peace.’ According to a statement released by the US State Department, Rubio thanked Szijjártó ‘for his government’s commitment to peace and stability in Europe.’
The meeting between Szijjártó and Rubio came as uncertainty grew around the Trump–Putin summit, announced by the US president a week earlier. Over the weekend, media reports suggested that the meeting might be postponed or cancelled, as Moscow has not changed its position regarding an immediate ceasefire along the current front line. President Trump said on Tuesday that he does not want a ‘wasted meeting,’ a sentiment later echoed by the Kremlin.
On Wednesday, following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington, Trump confirmed that the summit had been cancelled for now, explaining that the parties ‘do not feel it is appropriate at this time.’ The US president added, however, that the meeting ‘will be held in the future.’
In an apparent attempt to pressure Putin into compromise, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on two major Russian oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft, citing Moscow’s ‘lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.’ ‘Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine. Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump’s effort to end yet another war. We encourage our allies to join us and adhere to these sanctions,’ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday.
Trump noted that he hopes the sanctions ‘won’t be in place for too long,’ expressing optimism that the war will end soon.
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