Hungary has received an invitation to join a new international body created by the United States (US) to implement a peace plan, underlining Budapest’s role in efforts to settle conflicts and mobilise resources for long-term stability. The move would place Hungary among the founding participants in the US “Peace Council”, which is expected to be chaired by Donald Trump. The WP Times, reports this, citing a statement by Viktor Orban posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Hungary and participation in the Peace Council
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Facebook on 18 January that US President Donald Trump had invited Hungary to take part in the work of the new “Peace Council”.
“Hungary’s efforts to achieve peace are being recognised. President Trump invited us to join the work of the Peace Council as founders. We, of course, accepted this honourable invitation,” he wrote. Hungary’s foreign minister told Kossuth Radio that Orban is pleased with the invitation and plans to take part in the body’s work.
Goals and composition of the Peace Council
The Peace Council, initiated by Donald Trump, has been created to implement a 20-point plan for the Gaza sector. It will provide strategic oversight, mobilise international resources and ensure accountability during the transition period from conflict to peace and development, the White House said.
In addition to Hungary, the Council includes presidents and prime ministers of other countries, including Argentina and Canada, as well as US representatives — the Secretary of State, a special envoy, Jared Kushner and former UK prime minister Tony Blair. The head of the body will be Donald Trump.
Potential expansion of activities
According to the Financial Times (FT), the US administration is considering creating a separate Peace Council to end the Russia–Ukraine war, which could include Nato, the European Union (EU), the United States, Ukraine and even Russia. This reflects the US intention to create an international platform to monitor and implement peace initiatives in different regions of the world.
We remind readers that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is stepping up his election campaign ahead of April elections, using the themes of war and EU funding. On 16 January, he announced the launch of a “national petition”, which will act as an informal referendum against European countries allocating funds for Ukraine. It is also noted that Hungary’s pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is once again using a tried-and-tested tactic, creating the image of an external enemy to mobilise support: where previous targets included George Soros, the European Union and migrants, his current target is Ukraine.
What is the US “Peace Council” and what does it do
The Peace Council, also referred to in some reports as the “Board of Peace,” is a White House-backed initiative created to oversee the implementation of a 20-point US peace plan for Gaza, guiding the transition from active conflict to reconstruction, governance and long-term development.
The body is designed to provide strategic oversight, coordinate international political and humanitarian support, mobilise funding for rebuilding efforts and ensure accountability during the post-war period. Under the proposed framework, participating countries would hold seats for fixed terms of up to three years, while a financial contribution of at least $1 billion has been cited in US media as a condition for obtaining or extending a permanent seat on the Council. The initiative is being promoted by Washington as a potential model for future international conflict management, with reports suggesting that a similar structure could later be considered for other crises, including the Russia–Ukraine war.
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