Trump Schedules Meeting with Putin in Budapest Following Phone Conversation

Trump and Putin Plan Budapest Meeting

On Thursday, President Trump revealed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold a meeting in Budapest at a yet-to-be-determined date after their summit next week.

After signing a historic peace agreement in the Middle East and working towards ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Trump shared insights from a long and “very productive” phone call with Putin on Truth Social shortly after 1 p.m. ET.

“By the end of our discussion, we decided to organize a high-level advisory meeting next week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the first U.S. meeting, with various other nominees involved. The exact location will be announced later,” Trump mentioned.

He also added, “President Putin and I will meet at an agreed venue in Budapest, Hungary, to explore the potential for concluding this ‘disgraceful’ war between Russia and Ukraine.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to visit the White House on Friday.

During the call, Trump noted that he explored economic opportunities between the U.S. and Russia following the conflict’s resolution.

Trump highlighted that President Putin expressed gratitude toward First Lady Melania for her involvement with children, saying, “He was very appreciative and indicated this will continue.” The two leaders also discussed trade relations between their countries in the aftermath of the Ukraine war.

Additionally, they spoke about Trump’s significant achievement in negotiating with Hamas, which resulted in the release of remaining hostages this week, and ongoing efforts to recover those still unaccounted for.

“President Putin congratulated me and the U.S. on the remarkable accomplishment of peace in the Middle East, a goal that has eluded many for centuries,” Trump remarked. “I genuinely believe that our success in the Middle East can aid in the negotiations for ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.”