Trump and Putin to Meet in Budapest as Talks Aim to End Russia–Ukraine War

Reuters

Trump and Putin in Alaska.

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday evening that he had held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that both leaders had agreed to meet in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

According to statements released by Trump on his Truth Social platform, the conversation was “very productive” and focused on peace efforts. He said President Putin had congratulated him and the United States on recent progress in the Middle East, expressing hope that this momentum could contribute to ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump added that senior advisers from both countries will meet next week to prepare for the summit, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the American delegation. The specific date of the meeting in Budapest has yet to be confirmed.

In the same post, Trump claimed that Putin had expressed appreciation to First Lady Melania Trump for her humanitarian efforts.

The call between the two leaders took place on the eve of Trump’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. Discussions are expected to centre on Ukraine’s request for US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles — long-range weapons capable of striking major Russian cities.

Speaking to reporters earlier, Trump said he would consider supplying Kyiv with the missiles “if President Putin refuses to engage in serious negotiations to end the war,” while insisting he still believes a “just peace” can be achieved.

The planned Budapest summit marks the most significant diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow since Trump’s return to the White House, raising hopes — and questions — about the future of the two-year-old conflict in Ukraine.

Reporting based on statements from President Trump’s Truth Account and recent coverage by Reuters, AP, and Politico.



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