Trump to Meet with Putin in Hungary to end Russia–Ukraine War. US President declares meeting is to “bring this inglorious war to an end” after telephone call with Russian president.
US President Donald Trump revealed plans to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss how to bring an end to the current Russia–Ukraine war. A date for the meeting has not been finalised yet. But Trump reported that both sides had agreed in principle after a two-hour telephone call on Thursday.
The US and Russia will initially have high-level preparatory talks next week, directed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior administration officials. The Budapest summit, Trump stated, will seek to find out “if we can bring this inglorious war between Russia and Ukraine to an end.”
“I think tremendous progress was made on today’s telephone call,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Saying he will detail the conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at their planned White House meeting on Friday.
Trump Shifts Gaze to Europe Following Middle East Ceasefire
Trump’s diplomatic efforts come after he recently played a role in negotiating a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Something he has branded as a breakthrough for peace in the Middle East. “I actually believe that the success in the Middle East will help in our negotiation in achieving an end to the war with Russia and Ukraine,” he stated.
During the call, Putin congratulated Trump for securing the Gaza ceasefire, calling it a “peace dreamed of for centuries.” They also discussed potential U.S.–Russia trade and postwar collaboration if peace is achieved.
The Budapest gathering will be the second significant Trump–Putin summit since Trump’s return to office. The two leaders met in August in Alaska, but that meeting ended without tangible measures toward halting the conflict. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-putin-speak-before-zelenskiys-white-house-visit-axios-reports-2025-10-16/
Zelenskyy Pushes for Tomahawk Missiles
The Trump–Putin call came just one day prior to Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington. Where the Ukrainian president is scheduled to revive his request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. He believes granting Ukraine the ability to hit further into Russian territory might pressure Moscow to negotiate.
“Maybe I’ll say, ‘Look, if the war’s not going to come to an end, I may send them Tomahawks,'” Trump explained this week, indicating that he is weighing giving Kyiv state-of-the-art US arms to put more pressure on Moscow.
Providing Tomahawks to Ukraine would be a “totally new level” of the war and would irreparably harm ties between Moscow and Washington, Putin has said.
Washington Balances Diplomacy and Pressure
In spite of their previous differences, Trump and Zelenskyy’s relations have recently warmed up with both leaders being frustrated with Putin’s intransigence. Trump has vowed to use economic leverage and sanctions as well as pressuring the Kremlin for direct negotiations.
US Senate Majority Leader John Thune is staging a vote on a sanctions bill targeting countries doing business with Russia, marking a new bipartisan effort to ratchet up pressure on Moscow.
At the same time, Trump is calling on India and other US allies to cut purchases of Russian oil — one of the main sources of finance for Putin’s war machine. New Delhi, however, has rejected reports of such an agreement.
A Test for Trump’s Global Peacemaking
Concluding the wars in Gaza and Ukraine were key bets of Trump’s 2024 campaign. Following his Middle Eastern victory, the White House now seeks the same in Europe.
Diplomatic momentum and the imagery of a Budapest summit could produce a new opportunity — even as Putin continues to rocket Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, devastating domestic gas production and further aggravating the humanitarian crisis on the eve of winter.
Zelenskyy plans to strengthen defense partnerships and energy alliances to keep the U.S. actively engaged in Kyiv’s fight.
He will also hold meetings with Congressional leaders and energy executives while on his visit to Washington.
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