Trump and Putin to Meet in Hungary to Discuss End to War Between Russia, Ukraine

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could help negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, President Donald Trump said following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  

“I have just concluded my telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, and it was a very productive one,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday afternoon, adding that he and Putin will soon meet in Hungary to discuss an end to the war.  

Russian and U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will meet next week, according to the president, following by a meeting between Putin and Trump in Budapest, Hungary, aimed at bringing “this ‘inglorious’ war, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end,” Trump said. 

Trump held a summit with Putin in Alaska in August. While Trump said at the time that progress was made at the summit, Russia has continued to wage an aggressive war campaign in Ukraine following its initial invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022.  

The call Thursday between Putin and Trump comes just days after the Trump administration succeeded in finalizing a deal for peace between Israel and Hamas.  

“President Putin congratulated me and the United States on the great accomplishment of peace in the Middle East, something that, he said, has been dreamed of for centuries. I actually believe that the success in the Middle East will help in our negotiation in attaining an end to the war with Russia/Ukraine,” Trump said.  

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal last week based on Trump’s 20-point plan to permanently end the war in Gaza and disarm Hamas. Phase one of the peace deal is underway, and all the living hostages have been returned to Israel, but Hamas has returned the remains of only nine deceased hostages, leaving the bodies of the other 19 still in Gaza.

Israel argues Hamas is in violation of the agreement for failing to immediately return all remains, but the ceasefire has continued to hold.   

Trump campaigned on ending the war in Gaza and the war between Ukraine and Russia. Following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Trump has been open about his desire to now see the conflict between Russia and Ukraine likewise come to an end.  

Trump’s call with Putin included discussion of the Ukrainian children who have been abducted to Russia.

“We also spent a great deal of time talking about trade between Russia and the United States when the war with Ukraine is over,” the president said.  

Trump has put pressure on a number of nations to stop buying Russian oil. On Wednesday, Trump said India has agreed to stop purchasing oil from Russia.  

Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday to “discuss my conversation with President Putin, and much more,” he said, adding, “I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation.”