Trump and Putin Consider Zelensky’s Ouster at Budapest Summit

A prominent Finnish geopolitical analyst has suggested that the upcoming summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest may focus on strategies to remove Volodymyr Zelensky from his position as Ukraine’s President. This speculation follows Zelensky’s recent visit to the White House, where he aimed to negotiate the acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States. Ukraine intends to use these long-range weapons to enhance its ability to target Russian energy infrastructure, thereby aiming to undermine the Kremlin’s war economy.

Tensions escalated during Zelensky’s meeting with Trump, as insiders revealed to the Financial Times that the discussion devolved into a “shouting match.” Reports indicate that Trump dismissed a map outlining the Ukrainian front lines during the heated exchange. The US President reportedly warned Zelensky that failing to negotiate with Putin could lead to his “destruction” by Russian forces.

Before Zelensky’s visit, Trump had a phone conversation with Putin, during which the Russian leader made a minor concession. Both leaders agreed to convene another peace summit, with Putin proposing the return of certain territories in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. In exchange, he suggested that Ukraine should give up its hold on parts of Donetsk. Zelensky, however, firmly rejected this proposal, emphasizing that Ukraine’s position remains unchanged.

Geopolitical analyst Tuomas Malinen, a professor at the University of Helsinki, expressed his views on social media, suggesting that Trump and Putin might unite to remove Zelensky from power during their upcoming meeting. He remarked, “It is interesting to see whether @POTUS and President Putin finally agree on the removal of President @ZelenskyyUa from power in Budapest. There’ll not be peace otherwise.”

During a press briefing on Monday, Zelensky reiterated that Putin is the primary obstacle to achieving a peace deal. He stated, “Trump wants a quick victory—an end to the war—and that would be a victory for all reasonable people. Putin, however, wants the total occupation of Ukraine.”

In the same briefing, Trump maintained his belief that Ukraine could ultimately win the war, though he acknowledged the situation remains uncertain. “Anything could happen,” he said, adding, “War is a very strange thing.”

As the summit approaches, the international community watches closely to see how these discussions may shape the future of Ukraine and its ongoing conflict with Russia. The implications of any agreements made between Trump and Putin could have significant consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for global geopolitical dynamics.