Orban calls recent Trump-Zelenskyy meeting bad event

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that the meeting of US President Donald Trump with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House was a bad event because it showed that the Kyiv regime does not want peace.

In a statement on March 1, Orban noted that Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy on February 28 was crucial for solving "the question of war and peace in Europe" and from this point of view it brought "bad news", Caliber.Az reports via Hungarian media.

"What we saw yesterday [February 28] was a bad event," the prime minister said. Trump reiterated his intention to seek a settlement of the conflict, and meanwhile Zelenskyy "demonstrated that he does not want peace, or at least does not want it on the terms offered by the Americans," Orban emphasised.

On February 28, 2025, a highly contentious meeting took place between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. The encounter, initially intended to discuss a minerals agreement and broader support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, devolved into a public confrontation. Trump accused Zelenskyy of ingratitude and criticized his stance on Russia, while Vice President JD Vance labeled Zelenskyy as "disrespectful." The meeting ended abruptly, with Zelenskyy departing earlier than scheduled and the anticipated agreement left unsigned.

The fallout from this meeting was swift and widespread. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed strong support for Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of aggression. Macron called for "calm" between the two leaders and warned against any U.S. disengagement from supporting Ukraine.

In contrast, Russian officials praised Trump's actions, with former President Dmitry Medvedev commenting that Zelenskyy received a "solid slap."

By Khagan Isayev