Zelenskyy Eyes Budapest Peace Talks with Putin, Seeks Stronger U.S. Pressure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prepared for a direct face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin, suggesting Budapest as a potential venue for peace talks. He also called on Donald Trump to escalate pressure on Russia, drawing a comparison between Putin’s actions and those of Hamas, and advocating for a more robust response. Zelenskyy voiced his determination in an interview, stating that Putin requires “more pressure.” His comments come amid Ukraine’s pursuit of advanced weaponry, such as Tomahawk missiles, which could extend Ukraine’s strike capabilities significantly into Russia. Trump’s stance on providing these long-range missiles remained ambiguous after his meeting with Zelenskyy, a point the Ukrainian president noted with cautious optimism, interpreting it as a deferral rather than a denial. Zelenskyy believes that Putin is concerned about the potential delivery of these Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, a scenario Russia has previously described as a “new stage of escalation.” The Ukrainian leader emphasized that any meaningful peace settlement necessitates Ukraine’s full involvement, questioning the validity of agreements made in their absence. He confirmed his readiness to attend a summit aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace, provided it is conducted without the threat of ongoing hostilities. Despite intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Zelenskyy maintained that Ukraine is not losing and that these strikes are a sign of Russia’s faltering position and its attempt to engineer an “energy disaster” during the winter months. He adamantly rejected any compromise involving the surrender of Ukrainian territory, asserting that maintaining current positions is vital for diplomatic progress. Reflecting on Trump’s ability to resolve the conflict, Zelenskyy expressed a hopeful affirmation.