Budapest summit risks becoming a trap for Trump and Ukraine

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s latest efforts to mediate the war in Ukraine, warning that the upcoming Budapest summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin is a strategic “trap” that benefits Moscow.

1news.media citing Kyiv Post, reports that in an interview with Kyiv Post, Pifer said Trump was “played again by Putin” before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent White House visit, claiming Trump appeared to push Kyiv toward ceding territory in Donetsk—a move Pifer calls militarily unacceptable.

He also criticized Trump’s advisers for misunderstanding local realities, including assumptions that Russian-speaking residents of Donetsk wish to join Russia.

Pifer argued that Trump’s diplomacy is “doomed to fail” because the White House is unwilling to apply real pressure or consequences on Moscow.

He cited Trump’s reversal on sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine as evidence of weak commitment, estimating less than a 10% chance that Trump will be a helpful partner in ending the war.

Regarding the Budapest summit, Pifer said Russia is pleased with the venue—one of the few European capitals open to hosting Putin—and warned it could mirror the failed Alaska meeting, where Trump allegedly accepted terms favorable to Moscow. Ukrainian President Zelensky has also rejected the Budapest location, citing both Hungary’s pro-Russian stance under Viktor Orban and the negative symbolism of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which failed to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Despite his pessimism, Pifer urged Kyiv and European allies to keep diplomatic channels open with Washington, advising them to avoid burning bridges while preparing for limited U.S. assistance. He suggested Europe and Ukraine focus on alternative support mechanisms, such as NATO-led arms transfers, while the White House should prepare for any future talks with clear consequences for Putin if he refuses to negotiate seriously.