Trump Announces Next Meeting with Putin in Budapest
US President Donald Trump announced plans to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, following what he described as a very productive
phone call. The summit, set to take place in Budapest, Hungary, will focus heavily on discussions about the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Background and Context
The announcement came after a lengthy phone call between the two leaders on Thursday. This call was characterized by Trump as very productive
, with both presidents seemingly making great progress
, according to Sky News World. The anticipated summit will occur after high-level advisors
from both nations meet, according to Russia Today.
The phone call between the two leaders transpired a day before Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's scheduled visit to the White House, as reported by BBC News.
Key Developments
Trump expressed optimism about the upcoming meeting, suggesting it could result in a ceasefire breakthrough. This optimism remains despite the lack of such an outcome from their previous meeting in Alaska in August, as noted by Japan Times.
The US leader hopes to meet with Putin within two weeks, according to TASS. Prior to the summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump, seemingly frustrated with Putin's three-year-long war on Ukraine, plans to talk about a ceasefire in the region, reports the New York Times. The war in Ukraine will be a central focus during the Budapest talks, as confirmed by Deutsche Welle and Ukrinform.
Implications and Reactions
Trump has taken a firm stance on the Ukraine issue. The Kyiv Independent reports that he is prepared to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Russia does not end the war. However, he plans to discuss the matter with Putin before making any such move.
Conclusion
The upcoming summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest promises to be a significant event with potential implications for the conflict in Ukraine. The meeting's outcome remains uncertain, but there is hope that the discussions could lead to significant progress towards a ceasefire. The international community will be watching closely as the situation unfolds.