Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that significant disagreements remain between Kyiv and Washington following his meeting with US President Donald Trump, as preparations continue for the proposed Budapest summit involving Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at his first press briefing since the talks, Zelensky described the meeting as ‘frank”, saying the goal was to secure a “just peace” rather than a “quick peace”. Despite efforts to project calm, his remarks suggested that Ukraine had walked away with little progress, especially after failing to obtain the US Tomahawk missiles it hoped would strengthen its defence.
Tensions were further stoked by Zelenskyy’s criticism of Hungary as the venue for the upcoming Trump and Putin talks, citing concerns about Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s perceived alignment with Moscow. Trump, when asked if Zelensky would participate in the meeting, said arrangements would be made to “make it comfortable for everybody,” hinting at possible separate discussions among the three leaders.
Reports indicate that the atmosphere at the Trump-Zelensky meeting was far more strained than initially revealed. The Financial Times reported that Trump had allegedly warned Zelensky that Putin could destroy Ukraine if he refused to compromise, with the US side appearing to echo elements of the Russian position. Trump later posted on social media that both sides should “stop where they are”, suggesting a freeze along the current front lines.
Zelenskyy maintained that while he was open to a ceasefire, Ukraine would not concede territory. Moscow, however, has continued to demand a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four occupied regions, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, a position Kyiv and its allies view as unacceptable.
Former security official Ivan Stupak said the reports of hostility were likely overstated, describing the meeting as neutral.
As the Budapest summit looms ahead, questions remain over whether Trump can balance his role as both a mediator and negotiator. While he has said Ukraine “could still win it,” Trump also acknowledged the unpredictability of war. The outcome of these talks could determine not only the future of the conflict but also the contours of future US-Ukraine relations and Western diplomacy toward Moscow.
