In a pivotal diplomatic move, US President Donald Trump held a “very productive” telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The call took place on Thursday, setting the stage for Trump’s upcoming White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump shared on Truth Social that the dialogue with Putin was fruitful and covered the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Russian advisers next week for further discussions. Furthermore, Trump disclosed his intention to meet Putin face-to-face in Budapest, Hungary, with the explicit goal of working towards ending the “inglorious war.” This proactive engagement highlights the administration’s focus on seeking diplomatic solutions. The meeting with Zelenskyy, scheduled for Friday, is expected to center on US support for Ukraine and potential peace initiatives. Zelenskyy indicated his own agenda includes discussions on air defense and long-range capabilities to maintain pressure on Russia. This comes amidst Russia’s expressed concerns regarding potential US provision of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
