Trump and Putin Plan Budapest Summit Amid Ukraine Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest to discuss ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. This decision follows a two-and-a-half-hour phone call between the two leaders on October 16, during which they also agreed to hold a high-level U.S.-Russia meeting next week.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has expressed readiness to host the summit, stating that Budapest is "essentially the only place in Europe today where such a meeting can be held."

The announcement comes ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, where he is expected to seek U.S. support, including the provision of Tomahawk long-range missiles.

The proposed meeting in Budapest has raised concerns among European Union and NATO members, given Hungary's membership in both organizations and the ongoing efforts to isolate Putin over the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has signaled support for the meeting, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that it "may take place within two weeks or a bit later."

The upcoming discussions are part of renewed diplomatic efforts to find a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for over three years.