Trump and Putin Plan Budapest Meeting Following 'Productive' Call on Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in an extensive phone conversation on Thursday, discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The call, described by both leaders as "good and productive," concluded with plans for high-level advisors from both nations to meet next week, followed by a summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest, Hungary.

The Kremlin indicated that the phone call was initiated at Russia's request. During the discussion, Putin expressed concerns that supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine could harm the peace process and damage Russia-U.S. relations. These missiles have a range of approximately 2,500 km (1,500 miles), potentially putting Moscow within reach from Ukrainian territory.

In a social media post, Trump stated that "high-level advisors" from both countries would meet next week, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He added that he and Putin would subsequently meet in Budapest to explore ways to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The timing of this call is notable, occurring just before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's scheduled visit to the White House. Zelensky is expected to seek additional military support, including long-range Tomahawk missiles, to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities. Trump has hinted at the possibility of supplying these weapons if Russia does not engage in meaningful negotiations.

The international community continues to monitor these developments closely, as the proposed meetings could significantly influence the trajectory of the conflict in Ukraine.