On Thursday, the President announced his intention to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary within the next few weeks, following a scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington, D.C., this Friday.
Trump conveyed via his Truth Social platform that “a meeting of our High Level Advisors,” headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is slated for next week, although its location remains undisclosed.
He stated, “President Putin and I will subsequently convene in a mutually agreed location, Budapest, Hungary, with the aim of ending this ‘inglorious’ conflict between Russia and Ukraine.” He added, “President Zelenskyy and I are scheduled to meet tomorrow in the Oval Office to discuss my dialogue with President Putin, among other topics. I am confident that significant strides were achieved during today’s phone conversation.”
Although Trump indicated that he and Putin engaged in an extensive discussion concerning U.S.-Russia trade, he made no reference to the provision of advanced weaponry, such as Tomahawk missiles, to Ukraine by the U.S. This issue is a primary driver for Zelenskyy’s visit to D.C. and reportedly the initial impetus for Trump’s call to Putin.
Earlier in the week, Trump had remarked on the necessity of consulting with Putin to ascertain his willingness to face “Tomahawks going in their direction.”
Securing these sophisticated armaments is a paramount concern for Zelenskyy, given their capacity to strike targets well beyond Moscow and potentially transform Ukraine’s capability to target an expanded portion of Russia’s military infrastructure, as well as its oil sector, which serves as a significant source of war funding.
This announcement of the Trump-Putin meeting followed just hours after Russian missile and drone attacks heavily struck Ukrainian cities and energy facilities during the early morning hours of Thursday.
Zelenskyy reported on X that over 300 drones and 37 missiles, including a “significant number of them ballistic,” were launched, impacting areas not only near the front lines but also the west-central city of Vinnytsia.
“There are wounded. Recovery efforts are underway everywhere. Emergency services are working,” Zelenskyy stated, further noting that reports indicate “double terror” tactics are being employed by targeting firefighters and energy workers with Shahed drones equipped with cluster munitions.
He continued, “This autumn, Russians are daily targeting our energy infrastructure. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has ignored all global appeals, meaning the sole communication he comprehends is that of pressure – through sanctions and through long-range capabilities.”
Zelenskyy is set to arrive in D.C. on Thursday for discussions with defense and energy officials regarding strategies to intensify pressure, aimed at countering war ambitions in Ukraine.
This week, Trump informed reporters that additional defensive armaments, such as more Patriot missiles, are also on the agenda for Friday’s discussions.
While Trump has not confirmed the provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, he has increasingly expressed his exasperation over Putin’s persistent war ambitions, notwithstanding Trump’s efforts since his re-entry into the White House in January.
This report includes contributions from Nick Rojas.