As much of Europe frets over the return of Donald Trump, Hungary's Viktor Orban is in a jubilant mood. "A much needed victory for the World!" the Hungarian nationalist leader wrote on X minutes after Trump declared victory.

So what will the future Trump presidency mean for the continent? And in particular, for Ukraine? Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky is in the Hungarian capital for a meeting of the European Political Community.

European leaders converge on Budapest Thursday for two days of high-level talks that will seek to rise to the challenges posed by Donald Trump's return to the White House --

Donald Trump's White House return is to overshadow a Budapest gathering of European leaders on Thursday and Friday after he roared to a comeback victory in the US presidential elections. European leaders are headed to the Hungarian capital for the fifth meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) as well as an informal summit of EU leaders.

European leaders congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday on his U.S. presidential election victory, saying they were ready to work with him but would defend Europe's interests, amid worries about the impact of a Trump return to the White House.

European heads of government acknowledged that ties with the US are too important to put in jeopardy. However, they also pushed for more independence from Washington.