Budapest, Hungary – U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest within the next two weeks to discuss ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. The announcement followed a “lengthy” phone call between the two leaders, which Trump described as “very productive.” He emphasized that the meeting aims to bring the “inglorious” war to an end.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Trump and a known supporter of Russia, has welcomed the summit, highlighting Budapest’s unique position as a neutral ground for such high-level talks. Orbán’s government has been a vocal critic of Western support for Ukraine, which may have influenced the choice of Hungary as the meeting location.
Before the summit, U.S. officials, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are scheduled to meet with Russian representatives to lay the groundwork for the talks. The specific date and venue for the summit are yet to be determined.
This development comes amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to mediate peace in the region, following recent successes in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump has expressed optimism that the momentum from Middle East peace initiatives could facilitate a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
