BRUSSELS – In a surprising pivot from its traditionally hawkish stance on Russia, the European Union on Friday openly endorsed any prospective meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, provided it advances a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine. The statement comes just one day after the two leaders held a marathon phone call, reigniting hopes for high-level diplomacy to end the grinding 32-month conflict that has reshaped global security.
Speaking at the European Commission's daily news briefing in Brussels, Commission spokesperson Olof Gill articulated the bloc's nuanced position. "President Ursula von der Leyen welcomes any steps that lead to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," Gill said, responding to queries about reports of a potential summit. "If the proposed meeting you mentioned serves this purpose, we would welcome it."
Gill's remarks underscore a pragmatic shift in EU rhetoric, balancing unwavering support for Kyiv with a growing fatigue over the war's economic toll. The 27-nation bloc has funneled over €120 billion in aid to Ukraine since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022, including €54 billion in long-term financial assistance and €45 billion in military support. Yet, with energy prices still elevated and inflation lingering at 2.4% across the eurozone, public opinion polls from Eurobarometer in September 2025 show 58% of Europeans favoring diplomatic solutions over prolonged military aid.
The EU's longstanding position remains crystal clear, Gill emphasized. "It is long overdue for Russia to stop its senseless and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," he declared, echoing countless G7 and NATO communiqués. Details of the rumored Trump-Putin meeting remain unconfirmed, but Gill expressed optimism: "We would view it positively if it moves things forward in the direction of achieving peace."
Pressed on whether Commission President von der Leyen had directly coordinated with Trump, Gill demurred. "I cannot confirm specifics, but President von der Leyen is in frequent contact with all leaders in the context of our unwavering efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine." Von der Leyen's calendar, reviewed by EU observers, indeed shows recent calls with Trump on September 22 and October 10, focusing on transatlantic trade and Ukraine strategy.
Complementing Gill's comments, fellow spokesperson Anita Hipper highlighted the EU's dual-track approach: bolstering peace initiatives while ratcheting up pressure on the Kremlin. "We are supporting peace. We're supporting President Trump in his efforts; we want to achieve that," Hipper said. "And for this, we want to put also the pressure on Russia." She revealed that the bloc's 19th sanctions package against Moscow—expected for adoption by late November—will target Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers, circumvention networks in third countries like Turkey and China, and key revenue streams from diamonds and metals. This package, building on €300 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets, aims to deprive the Kremlin of €20-25 billion annually, per European Council estimates.
Hipper also addressed a practical hurdle: Putin's mobility. While the Russian president and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov face EU asset freezes under Council Decision 2014/512/CFSP, they are "not specifically under travel bans," she clarified. This legal nuance could facilitate a summit in a neutral venue. Budapest, floated by Kremlin sources, aligns with Hungary's outlier status within the EU—Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly vetoed aid packages and hosted Russian delegations.
The buzz around a Trump-Putin rendezvous stems from Thursday's "very substantive, yet also extremely frank and confidential" telephone exchange, as described by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Lasting nearly two and a half hours—unusually long for such calls—the discussion covered Ukraine, Middle East tensions, and bilateral trade. Ushakov disclosed that the leaders explored a face-to-face summit, with aides tasked to prepare immediately. Budapest emerged as a frontrunner venue, leveraging its symbolic neutrality and Orbán's rapport with both men.
This would mark the duo's second in-person encounter since Trump's January 2025 inauguration. Their last meeting, on August 15 in Anchorage, Alaska, during a G20 sideline, yielded a joint statement on "de-escalation principles" but no breakthroughs. Analysts at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) note that Trump's "America First" doctrine prioritizes swift Ukraine resolution to redirect U.S. focus to China, aligning with EU interests in stabilizing energy markets.
Hungary's ICC Withdrawal Complicates War Crimes Accountability
The EU's peace overtures coincide with fresh complications in holding Russian leaders accountable. Spokesperson Anouar El Anouini reaffirmed Brussels' ironclad backing for the International Criminal Court (ICC) amid Hungary's controversial withdrawal from the Rome Statute. "The withdrawal will take effect one year after notification to the depository," El Anouini stated firmly. "Hungary, let us be clear, it has no effect on a state's duty of cooperation in relation to investigations and proceedings that started prior to that date."
Hungary's exit saga began April 3, 2025, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's arrival in Budapest for talks on Gaza. Citing "politicized" ICC warrants against Netanyahu and Putin, Orbán's government announced its intent to quit. The Hungarian parliament ratified the bill in May, triggering a 12-month countdown ending April 2026. This makes Hungary the first EU member to abandon the court since Romania's 2017 brief flirtation.
The ICC's relevance to Ukraine is acute. On March 17, 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children—a crime against humanity. Warrants also target Lavrov, former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova. As an ICC state party until 2026, Hungary is legally bound to arrest Putin if he visits—yet Orbán has vowed non-compliance, straining EU cohesion.
El Anouini stressed continuity: "Hungary remains obligated under the Rome Statute for all ongoing cases." The ICC has opened 15 preliminary examinations into Ukraine atrocities, documenting over 150,000 war crimes via Ukraine's Prosecutor General. EU funding—€37 million since 2022—bolsters these efforts, including mobile justice units in Kharkiv and forensic teams in Bucha.
Critics, including Amnesty International, warn Hungary's move erodes global norms, potentially emboldening autocrats. "This is a gift to Putin," said EU Parliament rapporteur Michal Šimečka. Yet, von der Leyen countered in a Strasbourg address: "No withdrawal changes our commitment to justice. Russia will answer for its crimes."
Broader Geopolitical Ripples
The Trump-Putin dynamic reverberates beyond Ukraine. Their call touched on Syria, where Russian-backed forces clashed with U.S. Kurds last week, killing 12. Trump reportedly urged Putin to restrain Iran, tying it to Ukraine concessions. Economically, a peace deal could unlock $500 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine reconstruction, per World Bank projections, while slashing EU LNG import costs by 15%.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a Kyiv presser, welcomed EU endorsement but cautioned: "Peace must include security guarantees, not just handshakes." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg echoed this, affirming Article 5 readiness.
As preparations accelerate, all eyes turn to Budapest. With EU sanctions looming and ICC tensions simmering, Friday's briefing signals Europe's high-stakes bet: diplomacy over deadlock. Whether Trump and Putin deliver remains the trillion-euro question.
