US President Donald Trump described a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday as “very productive,” announcing that both sides will hold face-to-face talks in Hungary in the coming weeks.
The call was the first between the two leaders since mid-August. Trump said that high-level teams from Washington and Moscow will meet next week to prepare for the summit, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the American delegation. While no exact date for the Budapest meeting was confirmed, Trump later told reporters he expects the meeting to take place within two weeks.
Discussion Points
Trump highlighted trade between Russia and the United States as a key topic, noting that discussions would consider post-war economic relations. He wrote on Truth Social:
“We spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over.”
The call coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s upcoming visit to the White House and discussions on arming Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep into Russia. Trump emphasized that the US cannot deplete its missile stockpile, saying:
“We need them too… so I don’t know what we can do about that.”
Mixed Reactions
Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, criticized Russia for continuing overnight strikes just hours before the call, stating that Moscow’s actions reveal its “real attitude toward peace.” She urged continued pressure on Russia via sanctions, reinforced air defenses, and long-range weapons.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed the planned talks, describing them as “great news for the peace-loving people of the world” and emphasizing that dialogue, not confrontation, is the key to European peace.
Background
Trump and Putin last met in Alaska on 15 August for a brief summit aimed at encouraging comprehensive peace talks in Ukraine. Since then, communications between the two leaders were not publicly confirmed until this Thursday’s call.
During his campaign, Trump had promised a quick resolution to the Ukraine conflict, but acknowledged the challenge of ending the war. Relations with Zelensky, which had been strained, have improved recently, with Trump signaling in September that he believes Ukraine could regain all territory lost to Russia.
Zelensky’s visit to Washington, his third since January, is expected to focus on the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles with a range of 2,500 km (1,500 miles), a subject likely to dominate discussions between the US and Ukraine.
This summary emphasizes the key developments, political context, and implications of the Trump-Putin talks while maintaining a clear, concise structure suitable for news readers.