After Putin call, Trump rang Orban over Ukraine EU membership

After Putin call, Trump rang Orban over Ukraine EU membership

Following a series of high-stakes diplomatic meetings aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump took a significant step by calling Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The conversation, which took place on Monday, August 18, 2025, focused on Ukraine's security guarantees and the potential implications for Hungary's stance on EU membership.

In a statement following the call, Trump mentioned that the discussion revolved around the security guarantees for Ukraine, which were a key topic during his recent meeting with European leaders. The U.S. president also expressed optimism about the potential for a ceasefire in Ukraine, although he noted that the topic was still under negotiation.

Orbán, who has been a vocal critic of EU policies and has been pushing for Hungary's sovereignty, is reported to have been cautious about the implications of Ukraine's security guarantees on Hungary's EU membership. According to Trump, Orbán raised concerns about the potential impact of the security guarantees on Hungary's relations with the EU, particularly regarding the bloc's stance on sovereignty.

The call between Trump and Orbán comes amid ongoing negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine. The U.S. president has been actively involved in the diplomatic efforts, including a recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House. The meeting resulted in a commitment from Russia to accept security guarantees for Ukraine, a significant step in the ongoing negotiations.

The financial markets reacted with minimal changes to the news, with major U.S. stock indexes ending the day mostly unchanged. The S&P 500 dropped 0.01%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 33.93 points, and the Nasdaq Composite eked out a modest 0.03% increase. The market's relatively stable response to the news suggests that investors are awaiting further developments in the diplomatic efforts.

References:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/18/trump-zelenskyy-ukraine-putin-live-updates.html