Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a longstanding critic of both the European Union and Ukraine, is now facing additional complications from U.S. President Donald Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy. Orban had been counting on a major diplomatic breakthrough during a planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, which was intended to be a defining moment in his foreign policy agenda. However, recent shifts in Trump’s positions have cast doubt on the summit’s feasibility, leaving Orban in an unexpected dilemma.
Orban’s relationship with Brussels and Kyiv has been strained for years, with critics accusing him of aligning too closely with Moscow while rebelling against EU policies. The potential encounter with Putin, however, was meant to reinforce Hungary’s position as a key player in Eastern European geopolitics. Trump’s decision to withdraw from previous commitments and alter his stance on Russia has created uncertainty, potentially undermining Orban’s plans for a significant diplomatic outcome.