United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, for talks on the ongoing war in Ukraine. The announcement follows a lengthy and reportedly “productive” phone call between the two leaders, marking the first known conversation since their August summit in Alaska.
Trump indicated that the Budapest meeting is expected to occur within two weeks and confirmed that senior U.S. and Russian officials will meet next week to prepare for the summit.
Context of the Trump-Putin Talks
The phone call comes a day before Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. Zelenskyy is expected to push for increased military support, including the sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory.
“I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation,” Trump said in a social media post on Truth Social. He added that he would brief Zelenskyy on the discussion in the Oval Office.
Zelenskyy stressed that only “the language of strength and justice” could bring Russia to the negotiating table and expressed hope that momentum from other international ceasefires, such as the recent Gaza truce, could help resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Escalating Violence in Ukraine
Despite ongoing negotiations, Russian forces continued to bombard Ukrainian cities, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight. Infrastructure across eight regions, including Kyiv, suffered blackouts, and energy facilities in the Poltava region were forced to halt operations. Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned gas company, reported that its infrastructure had been damaged for the sixth time this month.
Earlier attacks this week targeted a hospital and a United Nations convoy, injuring 57 people and forcing the evacuation of 50 patients. Ukrainian forces have retaliated with strikes on Russian targets, including an oil refinery in the Saratov region.
The Tomahawk Missile Debate
Zelenskyy has called for Tomahawk cruise missiles to boost Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities. These missiles have a range of approximately 1,600 km (1,000 miles), potentially allowing strikes on Moscow and other major Russian cities.
Trump indicated that he discussed Ukraine’s request with Putin but did not commit to providing the weapons. “We need Tomahawks for the United States too. We can’t deplete for our country,” he said. Putin has warned that sending such missiles to Ukraine would escalate the conflict to a “whole new level.”
Despite these concerns, Trump has signaled that he may leverage the threat of Tomahawks to encourage direct negotiations with Russia.
Strategic Implications and Diplomatic Pressure
Trump has actively sought to apply international pressure on Russia and other global players. Since the Alaska summit, he has encouraged nations like India to reduce their purchases of Russian oil, signaling a broader strategy to weaken Moscow economically while pursuing diplomatic resolution.
Trump’s announcement of the Budapest meeting underscores his ongoing efforts to mediate a resolution to the Ukraine war while balancing military aid to Kyiv and negotiations with Moscow.
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