Trump Announces Upcoming Meeting with Putin in Budapest After ‘Very Productive’ Call

United States President Donald Trump announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary following what he described as a “very productive” phone conversation on Thursday. The declaration comes just a day before Trump is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, and amid renewed debate over Kyiv’s request for Tomahawk missiles.

In a notable policy shift regarding Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Trump stated that he expects to meet Putin in Budapest within the next two weeks. The meeting would mark their second summit since Trump’s return to the presidency.

The Kremlin confirmed the report, describing the exchange as “extremely frank and trustful,” and said preparations for the summit were already underway.

Zelensky, for his part, asserted that the threat of Tomahawk deployment had pushed Moscow to resume negotiations, even as he continues to adapt to what appears to be yet another shift in Trump’s stance on the war.

“I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, adding that he and Putin would meet to “see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ war, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end.”

Later in the Oval Office, the 79-year-old president told reporters that the discussion had been “very productive,” indicating that the meeting could take place “within two weeks or so — pretty quick.” He also confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov shortly to finalise summit details.

During the conversation, Trump said Putin “didn’t like it” when he raised the issue of providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, capable of striking targets up to 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) away.

However, Trump appeared to question whether Ukraine would indeed receive the weaponry it seeks, saying the United States cannot afford to deplete its own reserves.

“We need them too, so I don’t know what we can do about that,” Trump remarked.

Trump’s relationship with Putin — whom he has long expressed admiration for — has fluctuated since his return to the White House in January. Following an initial period of warmth, tensions reportedly grew after a disappointing Alaska summit, where no resolution to the conflict emerged, despite Trump’s earlier promise to end the war “within 24 hours.”

Meanwhile, Zelensky’s rapport with Trump has evolved in the opposite direction. After a tense and public confrontation during their first meeting in February, Zelensky has since regained Trump’s support. Yet, this latest diplomatic pivot leaves Ukraine once again adjusting to Washington’s shifting stance.

Arriving in Washington on Thursday, Zelensky voiced hope that the “momentum” of Trump’s recent Middle East peace deal could help foster progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.

“We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” Zelensky said, adding that he plans to meet US defence contractors to discuss additional air defence systems.

The Kremlin hailed the call as “highly substantive,” with Putin’s senior aide Yuri Ushakov confirming that Moscow initiated the discussion. Ushakov added that Putin had cautioned Trump that arming Ukraine with Tomahawks would “not change the situation on the battlefield” and would instead “harm prospects for peaceful resolution.”

Budapest had previously been floated as a potential venue for a Trump–Putin meeting before the two leaders ultimately chose Alaska.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who enjoys cordial ties with both Washington and Moscow, confirmed that he had spoken to Trump directly:

“Preparations for the USA–Russia peace summit are underway,” Orbán wrote on X.

The selection of Budapest as the venue notably avoids complications stemming from the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Putin for alleged war crimes. Hungary has announced its withdrawal from the ICC, though the process will not be finalised until June 2026.

In April, Orbán reportedly assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hungary would not execute the ICC warrant should Putin visit the country.

As diplomatic manoeuvres unfolded, fighting persisted on the ground in Ukraine.
Russian forces renewed their attacks on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure, prompting Ukraine to impose nationwide rolling blackouts for the second consecutive day — a severe measure as temperatures dropped to freezing levels at night.

The forthcoming Budapest summit now looms as a crucial juncture in the complex web of negotiations surrounding the Russia–Ukraine conflict, carrying the potential — or at least the promise — of a renewed push for peace.