Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest for talks on ending Ukraine war
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Trump and Putin have agreed to a Budapest summit after a long phone call that both sides described as productive, with Washington and Moscow now preparing lower-level talks.
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US President Donald Trump, right, shakes the hand of Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP)
US President Donald Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold a summit in Budapest aimed at advancing talks to end the war in Ukraine, following what he described as a “very productive” phone conversation on Thursday.
The announcement came a day before Trump’s scheduled Friday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, where Trump is expected to brief Zelensky on the US–Russia discussions and potential next steps, and Zelensky is expected to push for additional military aid, including the long-range systems.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the two-hour phone call with Putin yielded “great progress,” adding that both leaders discussed prospects for peace and post-war relations.
“I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation,” Trump wrote, noting that the talks would be followed by lower-level meetings between Washington and Moscow next week. He confirmed that he and Putin plan to meet in Budapest “to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ war between Russia and Ukraine to an end.”
No date has yet been set for the summit, and the Kremlin has not publicly commented on the details of the call.
Kremlin: The call was initiated by Russia
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said the conversation took place “on our initiative” and that both sides highlighted the “deep mutual sympathies of the peoples of both countries,” referencing cooperation during World War II.
“It was highlighted that the current state of affairs in bilateral relations looks paradoxical amid this,” Ushakov told reporters in Moscow.
He confirmed that representatives from both countries would “immediately begin preparations for the summit,” which could take place in Budapest, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to hold a phone conversation “in the coming days” as part of the preparatory work.
Putin congratulates Trump on Middle East 'accomplishment'
According to Trump’s account, Putin congratulated him and the United States on what he called the “Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East,” describing it as an achievement “dreamed of for centuries.”
Trump suggested that progress in the Middle East could help facilitate negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The US president also said that Putin expressed appreciation for First Lady Melania Trump’s humanitarian work with children, and that the two leaders touched on post-war trade relations between Washington and Moscow.
Kremlin aide Ushakov later confirmed that Putin had outlined Russia’s “principled position” on achieving a comprehensive Middle East settlement, based on a generally recognized international legal framework that would guarantee sustainable peace for all peoples in the region.”
Tomahawk supply would damage Russia-US relations
The Trump–Putin talks come as Kiev faces mounting pressure on the battlefield and intensifying attacks on its energy grid.
Ukraine has requested long-range Tomahawk missiles from Washington, a move that would allow it to strike deep into Russian territory. Trump has previously said he could authorize such weapons if Putin fails to engage in meaningful peace talks.
In this context, according to Ushakov, the Russian president told his US counterpart that a possible supply of Tomahawk missiles to Kiev would not change the situation on the frontlines but would damage Russia-US relations.
"Vladimir Putin reiterated his point that the Tomahawks will not alter the battlefield situation, but they will cause significant harm to relations between our countries," Ushakov said after the phone call between the two leaders.
Putin also stressed Russia’s commitment to a political and diplomatic resolution of the situation in Ukraine.
"A special emphasis during the phone call was placed on the Ukraine crisis. Vladimir Putin provided detailed assessments of the current situation, highlighting Russia’s interest in achieving a peaceful political and diplomatic solution," Ushakov said.
US pushes economic pressure on Russia
Ahead of Thursday’s call, Trump claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and that his administration would urge China to take similar steps.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced Washington’s stance on Wednesday, saying the United States would “impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression” unless the conflict comes to an end.
Next steps
Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the American delegation in next week’s talks with Russian officials to lay the groundwork for the Budapest summit.
As both sides prepare for the high-stakes meeting, analysts say the initiative marks one of the most direct diplomatic engagements between Washington and Moscow since the war began, though it remains unclear whether it will bring an immediate change to the situation on the ground in Ukraine.
