President Donald Trump reported a "lengthy" and "productive" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two leaders discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump announced plans for a forthcoming meeting in Budapest, Hungary, although a specific date has yet to be established.
In a social media post, Trump mentioned that U.S. and Russian senior advisers would meet next week, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but the location of that meeting remains undecided. Trump also indicated that Putin had congratulated him on securing a ceasefire and a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, suggesting that progress in the Middle East could facilitate negotiations regarding Ukraine.
On the domestic front, Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, amid discussions about potentially providing Ukraine with long-range missiles. Earlier, Trump hinted at the possibility of sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if the war does not reach a resolution, stating, "Do they want Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so."
In his social media update, Trump expressed optimism regarding the conversation with Putin, declaring that significant progress was made. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Trump administration is sharing intelligence with Ukraine about Russian energy infrastructure, marking a notable development in U.S. support for Ukraine.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, Russia continues its military operations against Ukraine, having launched numerous attacks in recent weeks, leading to casualties and significant damage. Trump, while criticizing Putin's handling of the war, noted that it has not unfolded as expected and has made the Russian leader appear unfavorable. He remarked on Ukraine's resilience, stating, “who would think that Ukraine could have fought Russia for four years to essentially a standstill.”