Trump Raises Hope for Possible Meeting with Putin: "There is Always a Chance"

SadaNews - As hopes recently dwindled for a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, following heightened tensions between the two countries due to the war in Ukraine, Trump has not ruled out the possibility of the meeting.

During a welcome for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán upon his arrival at the White House last Friday, a reporter asked Trump if it was possible to meet Putin in Budapest at some point. He responded, "There is always a chance and hope."

Trump later added that he "still prefers Budapest as a location for a potential meeting with the Russian president," despite Washington and the Kremlin denying any ongoing discussions for an imminent meeting.

He also told reporters during his meeting with Orbán, who has friendly ties with Putin: "If we're going to meet, I would like it to be in Budapest." However, Trump did not mention a reason for choosing the Hungarian capital.

"Miracles Can Happen"

Additionally, Trump asked his Hungarian guest if he believed Ukraine could win this war, to which Orbán responded, "Miracles can happen!"

The U.S. president reiterated that he holds his predecessor Joe Biden responsible for the outbreak of war between Kyiv and Moscow. He stated, "Biden pushed for the outbreak of that war... but look what has happened to Ukraine, it is a much smaller country than Russia, and it has suffered many casualties... Moscow hasn't benefited much from this conflict either."

It is noteworthy that the U.S. president first suggested conducting these talks with Putin in mid-October, offering a summit meeting in Budapest within two weeks.

However, subsequent U.S. communications with Moscow revealed the Kremlin's insistence on its demands regarding Ukraine, prompting Trump to postpone the talks indefinitely.

This is because Russia demanded that Kyiv relinquish some territory in eastern Ukraine, particularly Donbas, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly affirmed his country will not abandon any inch of its territory.