In what can be a significant breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary.
The development came as Trump had a long phone call with Putin on Thursday, ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.
As per some reports, the phone call came as the Trump administration was mulling over supplying dangerous Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, which would provide them with the ability to strike deep in Russian territories.
Trump-Putin meeting: Diplomatic efforts amid Ukraine conflict
The idea of a Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary is taking shape at a time when tensions over the ongoing war in Ukraine are running high.
After the much-talked-about Alaska summit in August 2025, a meeting that many hoped would bring the first real breakthrough toward peace, expectations were high.
But despite being seen as an important step, it didn’t lead to an immediate ceasefire. Since then, Trump has adopted a noticeably tougher tone toward Moscow’s actions in the war.
Reports suggest that Trump and Putin have been having long, ongoing phone conversations in recent weeks, as both sides test the waters for a possible peace deal.
Trump has even gone as far as issuing an ultimatum: either Putin engages seriously in peace talks, or the US could ramp up military aid to Ukraine.
It’s a bold move, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. A successful peace deal could redefine security in Eastern Europe; failure, on the other hand, could lead to a dangerous new escalation.
Hungary was chosen as the potential venue largely because of its unique geopolitical position and the support of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has been coordinating closely with Trump on related economic discussions.
Budapest’s role highlights Europe’s desire to see dialogue continue and to explore new security arrangements for Ukraine, possibly involving multinational guarantees rather than NATO membership.
As Trump gears up for another round of talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the planned Trump-Putin meeting could set the stage for a broader trilateral dialogue.
If successful, it might just become one of the most consequential diplomatic efforts in recent history.
Zelenskyy to meet Trump on Friday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday is shaping up to be about more than just military aid, as it’s about laying out a long-term vision for Ukraine’s and Europe’s security.
Zelenskyy, who’s already in Washington with his team, is hoping to lock in US backing for stronger air defense systems and long-range weapons such as Tomahawk missiles.
But the agenda isn’t purely military. The two leaders are also expected to talk about boosting economic cooperation and finding new ways to cut off Russia’s war funding.
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