US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Budapest Summit in Hungary to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump announced the plan on Truth Social, saying the meeting will aim to “see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ War, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end.” He did not give a date for the summit but said the decision followed a two-and-a-half-hour phone call with Putin that he described as “very productive.”
Kremlin confirms call, backs summit proposal
The Kremlin confirmed the call, which was held at Russia’s request. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said it was “highly informative and extremely frank,” adding that Putin immediately supported Trump’s proposal for a summit in Budapest.
Trump also said he will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office to discuss his conversation with Putin, “and much more.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration would release more details soon, describing the call as “a very good and productive” discussion.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 16, 2025
Rubio to lead US delegation in early talks
At the end of the phone call, Trump said both sides agreed to have a preliminary meeting of senior advisers next week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation, though the location “is to be determined,” he wrote.
The announcement marks the latest sign of Trump’s attempt to take a personal role in potential peace efforts as the conflict nears its third year. The planned Budapest summit follows a prior in-person meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, just over two months ago.
Hungary welcomes planned peace talks
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who maintains close relations with both leaders, welcomed the plan. “The planned meeting between the American and Russian presidents is great news for the peace-loving people of the world,” Orbán posted on X, adding that Hungary is “ready” to host the talks.
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) October 16, 2025
Leaders discuss Middle East peace and postwar trade
Trump stated that during the call, Putin congratulated him and the United States on what he referred to as the “great accomplishment of peace in the Middle East.” Trump wrote that he believes “Success in the Middle East will help in our negotiation in attaining an end to the War with Russia/Ukraine.”
He added that they discussed postwar trade between the United States and Russia. “We also spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over,” he said.
Putin thanks Melania Trump for humanitarian efforts
Putin also thanked First Lady Melania Trump for her advocacy on behalf of children. The First Lady recently announced that eight Ukrainian children had been reunited with their parents in Russia after months of private talks between her office and Russian officials.
Missile proposal not part of the call agenda
The White House confirmed that the call did not include any discussion about Trump’s recent suggestion to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Zelenskyy said in Kyiv that his upcoming meeting with Trump will focus on “air defense and our possibilities with long-range (missiles to put) pressure on Russia.”
No date has been announced for the proposed Budapest summit, and neither side has released details about its agenda.
