WASHINGTON17 October 2025: US President Donald Trump has announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, in the coming weeks in a bid to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The announcement follows a lengthy phone conversation between the two leaders, described by Trump as productive, and comes just ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.
According to Reuters, the conversation between Trump and Putin lasted over two hours, after which the former US president stated that they had agreed a meeting would take place in Budapest. The Kremlin confirmed that preparations for the summit are underway, although no date has been officially set.
Trump described the upcoming summit as a diplomatic mission and emphasized his experience in negotiations, stating that his objective is to achieve a deal quickly. He also referenced Ukraine’s potential acquisition of US Tomahawk missiles, an issue Putin reportedly warned could damage US-Russia relations.
Ahead of the summit with Putin, Trump will host Zelenskyy at the White House, where analysts anticipate that Ukraine will press for further military assistance, particularly in the form of long-range munitions.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán welcomed the proposed summit, highlighting Hungary as neutral ground capable of hosting sensitive negotiations. He described Budapest as an island of peace in Europe, uniquely positioned to facilitate US-Russia talks.
Orbán’s remarks come as Hungary distances itself from the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants against Putin, potentially allowing the Russian leader to enter Budapest without facing legal obstacles.
The European Union expressed unease with the development, citing concerns that a bilateral US-Russia summit could sideline European influence in resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Observers remain cautious, noting that Trump’s earlier summit with Putin in Alaska in August 2025 produced limited results, raising questions about what new progress might be achieved this time.
Ukraine faces a complex diplomatic moment as Zelenskyy is expected to pursue arms commitments that could include Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep within Russian territory. Russian officials view such support as provocative, and analysts warn that the summit could be leveraged by Moscow to delay or blunt Western military aid.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán signaled his country’s readiness on X formerly Twitter, stating Preparations for the USA-Russia peace summit are underway. Hungary is the island of peace.
In a statement shared on X formerly Twitter by The White House, President Donald J Trump said I am speaking to President Putin now. The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents as will President Putin at its conclusion
The upcoming US-Russia summit in Budapest represents a high-stakes moment in the Ukraine conflict, testing the limits of bilateral diplomacy and the capacity of individual leaders to shape outcomes that have so far eluded multilateral efforts.
