Reports indicate⁤ potential plans for a summit between the Presidents of the United States, Russia,⁢ and Ukraine to⁢ be held in Budapest, Hungary. These⁤ plans stem from discussions initiated​ by US President Donald⁤ Trump, who reportedly spoke with ⁢Russian President vladimir Putin about arranging a meeting with Ukrainian ⁢President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, culminating‌ in a trilateral summit.

Sources within the Trump governance and‍ close to government officials corroborate ​these reports, initially​ highlighted by the Guardian. The US Secret Service is reportedly ⁣preparing⁣ for ⁢the possibility of the summit taking place in Budapest, which‍ appears‌ to be the White House’s preferred location, owing in⁣ part to the close relationship between Hungarian⁤ Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and ‍President Trump.

However, Budapest presents a perhaps sensitive location for⁤ ukraine, evoking the Budapest Memorandum of 1994. This⁤ agreement, signed by the US, UK, and Russia, guaranteed Ukraine’s‌ independence and territorial integrity ⁤in exchange⁤ for relinquishing its nuclear weapons.​ The‍ memorandum proved ineffective following ‌russia’s actions in ⁣2014, raising ⁣concerns‍ about the ⁤symbolism of holding talks in Budapest.

While Putin has reportedly expressed a preference for Moscow as the summit location, and French⁤ President Macron has suggested Geneva, Budapest ​remains ⁤a strong contender.Hungary’s recent withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) ⁣- which has‌ issued an arrest warrant for Putin – further complicates the situation, as ⁢it would provide immunity from arrest for⁣ the Russian President within Hungarian ⁣territory. Other ​potential locations, such as‌ Vienna,​ Austria, are being considered, with offers made⁤ to facilitate the talks and address concerns regarding ICC warrants.