Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged leading European Union powerhouses, France and Germany, to engage in dialogue with Russia ahead of the Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska, scheduled for 15 August, Friday.
According to Orbán, Paris and Berlin ‘hold the future of the continent in their hands,’ and must immediately initiate an EU–Russian summit to avoid a scenario where Russia and the United States ‘decide Europe’s fate without us.’ ‘Everything now depends on how European leaders respond,’ he argued.
The Hungarian prime minister described the upcoming week as historic and emphasized that US President Donald Trump seeks peace.
EU, Ukraine Counters Russian Proposal
Peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine gained momentum last week, as the 8 August deadline for sweeping secondary sanctions on Russian oil buyers drew closer. On 6 August, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where Putin outlined his conditions for a potential ceasefire. The two also agreed to arrange a meeting between Trump and Putin as soon as possible to mitigate the global economic fallout from secondary tariffs. Despite the looming deadline, no country other than India has been hit with the additional 25 per cent tariff for purchasing Russian oil.
Over the weekend, further details about the Russian proposal emerged through media reports, statements from Trump, the Kremlin, and EU officials, offering a clearer picture. During the 6 August meeting, Putin proposed the following to Witkoff:
- Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donetsk and Luhansk before a ceasefire;
- Russia’s withdrawal from some areas in Kharkiv and Sumy as a goodwill gesture;
- The freezing of current lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
Speaking to reporters, President Trump stated on Friday that ‘swapping territories’ could be part of a potential agreement.
‘According to Orbán, Paris and Berlin…must immediately initiate an EU–Russian summit’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unequivocally rejected such a deal, declaring that Ukraine would not cede its land to occupiers. Zelenskyy has the backing of the EU leadership and the Coalition of the Willing, who, together, presented a counterproposal on Saturday during an emergency meeting in the United Kingdom. The meeting was attended by US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoys Keith Kellogg and Witkoff. The counterproposal includes the following principles:
- A ceasefire first, followed by territorial talks;
- Reciprocal land withdrawals;
- Strong security guarantees, including NATO membership;
- No deal without Ukraine (and the EU).
While acknowledging these concerns as ‘serious’, Washington stopped short of endorsing the counterproposal. Vance hailed ‘significant progress’, but US officials fear that NATO guarantees and reciprocal withdrawals may be viewed by Russia as ‘maximalist’ and could stall talks with Putin.
Related articles:
