Trump and Putin Set for High-Stakes Meeting in Hungary

US President Donald Trump announced a significant diplomatic development following a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. The two leaders agreed to conduct face-to-face talks in Hungary, marking a pivotal moment in addressing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. This call was their first communication since mid-August and was described by Trump as “very productive.”

Trump indicated that discussions would begin next week, with teams from both Washington and Moscow preparing to engage in negotiations. Although a specific date for the Budapest meeting has yet to be confirmed, the Kremlin has stated that preparations will start “immediately” after their “extremely frank and trustful” dialogue. The timing of this summit is crucial, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit the White House soon, where he is expected to discuss the potential provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

In his remarks, Zelensky suggested that Russia is keen to resume diplomatic discussions, particularly in light of the looming transfer of these advanced weapons. He stated that Moscow is “rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” implying that the prospect of enhanced military support for Ukraine has prompted a shift in the Kremlin’s approach.

During his call with Putin, Trump revealed that trade relations between the United States and Russia were a significant topic of discussion, particularly post-conflict. He announced that “high level advisors” from both nations would meet next week at an undisclosed location, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the American contingent. Trump expressed optimism about the progress made in the conversation, noting that he would brief Zelensky on the outcomes during the Ukrainian president’s impending visit.

When questioned about the provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Trump exhibited caution, stating, “we can’t deplete” the US stockpile of these weapons. He acknowledged the necessity of maintaining sufficient missile capabilities within the US arsenal, which complicates the decision to provide them to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, condemned Russia for launching strikes on Ukrainian territory shortly before the call between Trump and Putin. She characterized these actions as indicative of Moscow’s “real attitude toward peace,” calling for more robust sanctions and enhanced military support for Ukraine, including long-range capabilities.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly welcomed the planned meeting between Trump and Putin, describing it as “great news for the peace-loving people of the world.” Orban has previously advocated for a reevaluation of Europe’s stance towards Russia, urging a shift from confrontation to negotiation to prevent further escalation of conflict.

As the situation develops, the upcoming talks in Hungary will be closely monitored by international observers, with the potential to influence the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and reshape US-Russia relations.