Putin and Trump Meeting in Budapest Seen as Blow to EU: The Telegraph

The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest is considered a painful blow to the European Union and will strengthen the influence of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán within the bloc, according to a report by the British newspaper The Telegraph.

"Hungary's choice as the host country for the summit has likely wiped the smile off the EU's face. The alliance has largely remained sidelined from the peace negotiations regarding Ukraine and is concerned about its insignificant role in the development of a resolution for the Gaza conflict between Israel and the Palestinian radical Hamas movement," the article states.

According to the authors of the piece, European diplomats hope for a change of government in Hungary, as Orbán obstructs EU policy; however, the negotiations set to take place in Budapest between the leaders of Russia and the U.S. will only bolster the Prime Minister's position on the global stage.

On Thursday, following a phone call with Putin, Trump announced that they had agreed to meet soon in the Hungarian capital. The U.S. president later clarified that this could take place within the next two weeks.