President Donald Trump said Thursday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Budapest to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, following what he described as a “lengthy” and “very good” phone call with the Russian leader.
Mr. Trump did not specify when the meeting would take place, but said high-level U.S. and Russian advisers would meet next week to begin preparing for the summit. The president added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation.
“A meeting location is to be determined,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “President Putin and I will then meet in an agreed upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ War, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end.”
The Kremlin confirmed the call lasted nearly two and a half hours and described it as “very informative, yet at the same time extremely frank and confidential.” Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said both sides agreed to begin immediate preparations for a summit, “which could be held, for example, in Budapest.”
Trump Says ‘Great Progress’ Made
Trump said “great progress was made” in his discussion with Putin and credited first lady Melania Trump for working with Moscow on efforts to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.
“President Putin thanked the First Lady, Melania, for her involvement with children,” Trump said. “He was very appreciative, and said that this will continue.”
Trump added that the two leaders “also spent a great deal of time talking about trade between Russia and the United States when the war with Ukraine is over,” suggesting he envisions a path toward normalized relations after peace is achieved.
White House to Host Zelenskyy
The announcement came one day before Trump is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. The meeting is expected to focus on Ukraine’s reconstruction needs and the future of U.S. security assistance.
Mr. Trump has recently expressed frustration with Putin, accusing him of prolonging the conflict, though he has not followed through on threats to impose new sanctions.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday he will move forward with a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia, telling reporters at the Capitol that “the time has come.”
Trump last met with Putin in person in Alaska in August.
