Orbán to Speak With Putin Ahead of Planned U.S.-Russia Summit in Budapest

The Hungarian PM argued that throughout his years in office, his Central European nation of 9.5 million has proven to be a “loyal partner, which always stood by its friends.”

Prime Minister of Hungary / kormany.hu

The Hungarian PM argued that throughout his years in office, his Central European nation of 9.5 million has proven to be a “loyal partner, which always stood by its friends.”

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary was scheduled to speak to Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday, October 17—to discuss a planned U.S.–Russian summit in Budapest.

Hungary’s PM said that he will be speaking with President Putin, noting that U.S.-Russian tensions remain high. Orbán added that he had previously spoken with the U.S. President, and that officials are now finalizing arrangements for an official Hungarian–American meeting in Washington D.C.

The Hungarian leader said Budapest is essentially the only place in Europe today where such a meeting can be held because of Hungary’s “consistent stance for peace.”

I regret that Pope Francis did not live to see this, as he was the one who encouraged us the most to stand firm for peace and to remain steadfast.

Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said on X that he had also spoken to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on late Thursday, October 16.

Lukács Fux is currently a law student at Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest. He served as an intern during the Hungarian Council Presidency and completed a separate internship in the European Parliament.