US President Donald Trump described his Thursday phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “very productive,” a significant development occurring just ahead of his planned White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump utilized his Truth Social account to relay the positive nature of the conversation, noting that views were exchanged on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He announced that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will engage with Russian “high-level advisers” next week. More notably, Trump revealed plans for a personal meeting with Putin in Budapest, Hungary, aimed at finding a resolution to the protracted war. This diplomatic outreach signifies a continued effort by the US to engage directly with Russia on de-escalation strategies. The upcoming summit with President Zelenskyy will likely address vital issues such as continued US assistance and exploration of peace avenues. Zelenskyy himself has stated his objectives include securing advanced air defense systems and long-range weaponry, while Moscow has voiced strong opposition to the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
