Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused the European Union of trying to sabotage the planned meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump. The summit is expected to take place in Budapest, Hungary.
Speaking to TASS on Monday, Zakharova said the EU is engaged in “active subversive actions” aimed at preventing any breakthrough in talks over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Her remarks followed a report from El Pais, which described the potential meeting as “a political nightmare” for Brussels. According to the Spanish outlet, European diplomats are uneasy about Putin and Trump discussing peace initiatives on EU territory without the bloc’s involvement.
Zakharova argued that Western European governments are “doing everything possible to escalate the conflict” between Moscow and Kiev. She recalled that similar actions were taken in 2022 when, according to Russia, Western nations obstructed peace talks held in Istanbul.
The spokeswoman said the EU’s public statements calling for peace are “mere camouflage,” concealing a deeper agenda of confrontation. She also criticized what she called the lack of professionalism among Western leaders, questioning whether they fully understand the consequences of their policies.
Zakharova’s comments came after reports that Ukraine had been discouraged from negotiating with Moscow by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Former Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia previously stated that Johnson’s visit to Kiev in 2022 convinced President Vladimir Zelensky to abandon peace efforts, although Johnson has denied those claims.
The upcoming Putin-Trump summit was announced following a two-and-a-half-hour phone call between the two leaders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Trump suggested Budapest as the venue, and Putin immediately agreed. The meeting could take place within the next two weeks or slightly later.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of both leaders, has defended hosting the event, arguing that dialogue is essential to end the war in Ukraine.