The Monocle Daily

Will the proposed Trump-Putin summit in Budapest do any good?

Oct 20, 2025
Featuring Rainbow Murray, a politics professor at Queen Mary University, Nick Gowing, broadcast journalist and security analyst, and Julie Norman, an expert on Gaza. They delve into the tension at Trump's meeting with Zelensky, questioning the implications for Ukraine. The potential Trump-Putin summit's effects on European security are explored. Julie discusses Gaza's complex history and its resilience amidst contemporary conflict, highlighting the motivations behind Hamas’ actions and the uncertain future for the territory.
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INSIGHT

Unpredictable U.S. Position Harms Allies

  • Trump’s stance on Ukraine shifted rapidly after private interactions, creating deep diplomatic uncertainty.
  • Nick Gowing says rapid reversals damage allied trust and make coherent policy impossible.
INSIGHT

A Frozen Front Risks Long-Term Instability

  • Proposals to freeze the front lines would cede territory and create long-term instability.
  • Rainbow Murray and Nick warn such deals risk legitimising Russian gains and demoralising Ukraine.
INSIGHT

Summit Talk Deepens European Disorientation

  • A Trump–Putin summit in Budapest adds to European disorientation about US reliability.
  • Rapid shifts in US signals force Europeans to reassess their defence and diplomatic plans, says Nick Gowing.
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