Trump Plans Budapest Meeting with Putin Following Significant Progress in Recent Call

President Donald Trump announced that he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, referencing «significant progress» made during a phone call on Thursday. This announcement comes just a day before Ukrainian President Volodyr Zelensky is scheduled to visit the White House to advocate for U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles.

While Trump did not set a specific date for the Budapest meeting, it will mark the second time he has met with Putin since returning to the presidency. Their previous encounter took place in Alaska in August, but it did not yield any advancements towards resolving Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

«I believe we made substantial progress in today’s call,» Trump stated on his Truth Social platform.

He mentioned that he and Putin are set to «gather in an agreed-upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this ‘disgraceful’ war between Russia and Ukraine to a conclusion.»

Top officials from both the U.S. and Russia, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are expected to hold «initial discussions» next week at a location that has yet to be determined, Trump added.

His remarks reflect the latest fluctuations in his relationship with Putin, especially after Trump expressed frustration over Putin’s unwillingness to negotiate a peace agreement.

There was no immediate response from the Kremlin or from Ukrainian President Volodyr Zelensky, who is scheduled to meet Trump on Friday to urge him to increase pressure on Putin.

A senior Ukrainian official informed AFP that the primary subject during Zelensky’s visit with Trump will be Tomahawk missiles.

Trump is currently considering Ukraine’s request for American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) and could potentially reach deep into Russia.

Over the weekend, Trump warned that he might bring up the issue with Putin, who has cautioned that supplying Tomahawks would escalate tensions significantly.

«I might say to him, ‘If this war isn’t resolved, I intend to send them Tomahawks,'» Trump remarked to reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to the Middle East.

«The Tomahawk is an outstanding weapon, highly offensive in nature, and frankly, Russia does not need it,» he added.

On Wednesday, Trump noted that the Ukrainians «wish to take an offensive approach» and that they would address Kyiv’s request for these cruise missiles.

Additionally, Trump has indicated his desire to apply more pressure on Moscow in light of the recent ceasefire agreement he facilitated in Gaza between Israel and Hamas last week.

Meanwhile, Trump’s relationship with Zelensky has improved since February, when their previously contentious televised meeting at the White House led to Trump telling the Ukrainian leader, «You don’t have the cards.»

How Zelensky will respond to Trump’s recent overture towards Putin is still uncertain.

The inclusion of Tomahawks would significantly enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities, providing them with long-range strike options through missiles that can fly just above the ground at near-supersonic speeds to evade radar detection.

The U.S. has been using Tomahawk missiles for over four decades in several prominent conflicts, from the Gulf War in 1991 to recent strikes against Iran’s nuclear program.

This week, senior Ukrainian officials in Washington also met with representatives from U.S. defense manufacturers, including Raytheon, the producer of Tomahawk missiles.

As the war enters its fourth year, Russia has intensified its attacks on energy infrastructure in eastern Ukraine, replicating its strategy of targeting Kyiv’s power grid, an approach it adopts every winter.

Energy has been a critical concern throughout the conflict, and on Wednesday, Trump mentioned that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised him that India would cease purchasing Russian oil.