Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, is set to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, according to reliable sources familiar with the meeting. Orbán's recent diplomatic engagements, including meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, have garnered criticism from his NATO allies. It has also been reported that he is negotiating a ceasefire plan without consulting the Biden administration or other European Union (EU) countries.

The meeting between Orbán and Trump is scheduled for 7pm at Mar-a-Lago, as revealed by a source close to the former president. Orbán's private jet, the 606 Dassault Falcon, arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday, where it remained parked as of Thursday morning.

Surprisingly, Orbán did not disclose any specifics regarding his talks with Putin or Xi to the current Biden administration. Furthermore, he did not request a one-on-one meeting with President Joe Biden. The U.S. National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, expressed unawareness of the meeting, stating that it seemed uncoordinated with the Ukrainians. The Ukrainian government has expressed concerns about any attempts to negotiate a peace agreement with Russia that exclude their direct involvement.

The European Union has voiced discontent over Orbán's negotiation tactics, accusing him of working independently without seeking consent from EU member states. This criticism is particularly significant as Hungary currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU.

Orbán has been a staunch supporter of Trump's presidency and has campaigned vigorously for his reelection. Péter Szijjártó, Hungary's foreign minister, expressed hope for improved Hungary-U.S. relations if Trump were to secure another term, claiming it would pave the way for peace. One European Union diplomat described Orbán's ambitions, stating that he aims to become Europe's main ally of Trump, granting him the ability to open doors to the White House.

Notably, Hungary will retain the presidency of the Council of the EU until the end of the year, a period that coincides with a potential president-elect Trump. This proximity in timing could provide Orbán with opportunities to negotiate on behalf of Europe during the final month before the new president's inauguration.

In further developments, representatives from the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs are scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting today with the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, D.C. The event, titled "On the Sidelines of the NATO Summit," will focus on U.S. and European security. Such meetings between Heritage Foundation and Hungarian government officials are not uncommon.

Critics argue that Orbán's diplomatic engagements with adversaries of the Western alliance system, such as Russia's Putin, do not serve the interests of Hungary or NATO. Some Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have expressed disapproval of Orbán's meeting with Putin. European countries, including Sweden, have directly condemned Orbán's actions, leading to the announcement that they will not send ministers to Hungary's EU presidency-related meetings in protest.

European politics continue to be influenced by Orbán's actions, causing ripples within diplomatic circles. As the meeting between Orbán and Trump looms, the international community remains divided on the Hungarian Prime Minister's approach and its potential implications for global relations.