Szijjártó Says U.S. Has Not Ruled Out Summit With Russia — Only Timing Remains in Question

 

Budapest — Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday that the United States has not abandoned the idea of holding a peace summit with Russia, but that the only unresolved issue concerns the timing of such a meeting. 

Szijjártó, speaking after talks with U.S. officials, said Washington wants any summit to yield tangible, “encouraging” results that could advance a durable peace in Central Europe. He added that Hungary would host the summit in Budapest if arrangements can be satisfactorily prepared. 

The Hungarian minister’s remarks came amid media reports that preparations for a planned meeting between U.S. and Russian presidents had been paused over differences in expectations. U.S. leaders have said they will consider a summit only if it can bring concrete progress on the conflict in Ukraine.