Executive Summary
- President Donald Trump announced a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, following a “very productive” phone call.
- This planned meeting will precede a discussion between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead a US delegation for initial talks with Russian officials.
- The call between Trump and Putin, initiated by Russia, covered the Ukraine conflict, Middle East peace, and trade, while Zelensky’s upcoming meeting with Trump will focus on Ukraine’s air defense and long-range missiles.
The Story So Far
- The planned summit between President Trump and President Putin in Budapest aims to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, building upon a previously considered venue and the established diplomatic ties facilitated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This renewed push for a diplomatic resolution is set against the backdrop of potential increased US military aid to Ukraine, specifically long-range missiles, which appears to be a factor influencing Moscow’s engagement in dialogue.
Why This Matters
- The upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin signals a significant direct diplomatic initiative by the US to potentially end the war in Ukraine, which could reshape America’s approach to the conflict, influence the future of military aid to Ukraine, and open pathways for broader US-Russia engagement on other international issues.
Who Thinks What?
- President Donald Trump announced he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest to end the war in Ukraine, following a “very productive” phone call where they also discussed Middle East peace and future trade.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed his immediate support for Trump’s summit proposal, characterizing their phone call as “highly informative and extremely frank,” though he reiterated concerns that potential US missile supplies to Ukraine would damage relations.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated his upcoming meeting with Trump would focus on Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and the potential for long-range missiles, noting Moscow appeared eager to resume dialogue upon hearing about such possibilities.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. The announcement, made on social media, followed a “very productive” phone call between the two leaders, though a specific date for the summit was not immediately provided.
Trump stated on Truth Social that he and President Putin would convene in Budapest “to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ War, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end.” This planned meeting comes ahead of a scheduled discussion between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday, where the US leader intends to debrief Zelensky on his conversation with Putin.
In addition to the presidential summit, Trump disclosed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would lead a delegation of high-level advisors for initial meetings with Russian officials next week. The location for these preliminary discussions remains “to be determined.”
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed Putin’s immediate support for Trump’s summit proposal, characterizing the two-and-a-half-hour phone call, held at Russia’s request, as “highly informative and extremely frank.”
The upcoming meeting in Budapest follows a previous in-person summit between Trump and Putin held in Anchorage, Alaska, approximately two months prior. Budapest had reportedly been considered as a potential host for that earlier meeting, reflecting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s close diplomatic ties with both leaders. Orban confirmed Thursday that “preparations for the USA-Russia peace summit are underway” after a call with Trump.
Beyond the Ukraine conflict, Trump noted that the call touched upon other topics, including what he described as the “Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East,” and future trade relations between the United States and Russia. Putin also reportedly expressed appreciation for First Lady Melania Trump’s advocacy for children, particularly concerning the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the call’s duration and productivity, assuring reporters that more details would be released as they became available.
President Zelensky, who arrived in Washington, DC, on Thursday, indicated that his meeting with Trump would focus on Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and the potential for long-range missiles to pressure Russia. He specifically referenced Trump’s recent suggestion of providing Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles, stating that Moscow appeared eager to resume dialogue upon hearing about such possibilities.
While Trump’s public readout of his call with Putin did not explicitly mention Tomahawk missiles, the Kremlin stated that Trump had assured Putin he would “take into account” Moscow’s concerns regarding their potential supply to Ukraine. Putin reiterated his long-held view that such weapons would not alter the battlefield situation but would significantly damage US-Russia relations and prospects for a peaceful resolution.
Outlook on Diplomatic Efforts
The series of announced high-level engagements underscores a renewed push for diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. With direct meetings planned between the US and Russian presidents, alongside parallel discussions with Ukrainian leadership and a US diplomatic delegation, international attention is now focused on the potential outcomes of these forthcoming negotiations.
