Trump and Putin to Hold Peace Talks in Budapest After ‘Productive’ Call on Ending Ukraine War

New Delhi, Oct 2025 : U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold face-to-face peace talks in Budapest, Hungary, following what he described as a “very productive” telephone conversation aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, President Trump wrote, “I have just concluded my telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and it was a very productive one. 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.”

According to the White House, the call — the first between the two leaders since August — lasted nearly an hour and covered a wide range of issues including peace negotiations, trade, and humanitarian cooperation, international media reported.

Trump said he believes the success achieved in the Middle East could serve as a model for peace efforts in Eastern Europe. “The success in the Middle East will help in our negotiation to attain an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine,” he wrote. The President added that Putin had “thanked the First Lady, Melania, for her involvement with children” and expressed deep appreciation, noting that the initiative would continue.

Both sides reportedly agreed to hold high-level preparatory meetings next week. “The United States’ initial meetings will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, together with various other officials to be designated,” Trump said. He added that while the venue for the initial discussions was still being finalized, the two leaders would later meet in Budapest to “see if we can bring this inglorious war between Russia and Ukraine to an end.”

The Kremlin confirmed the call, describing it as “extremely frank and trustful,” according to the BBC. Russian officials said preparations for the Budapest summit would begin immediately. The timing of the call is significant, coming just ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s scheduled visit to Washington.

Trump said he plans to brief Zelensky “tomorrow, in the Oval Office, where we will discuss my conversation with President Putin, and much more.” He added, “I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation,” noting that the leaders also discussed “trade between Russia and the United States once the war with Ukraine is over.”

Speaking briefly to reporters afterward, Trump said he expected to meet Putin “within two weeks.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán welcomed the planned meeting, calling it “great news for the peace-loving people of the world.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Orbán wrote, “Peace requires patience, strength, and humility. Europe must shift its stance. Instead of arrogance and fanning the flames of endless war, we need negotiations with Russia. Only dialogue can bring peace to our continent.”

The Budapest summit could mark a potential turning point after several rounds of U.S.–Russia diplomatic efforts — including talks held in Alaska in August — failed to yield results. Trump’s move to revive direct diplomacy with Moscow comes as his administration continues to weigh new sanctions and military aid packages in response to the prolonged conflict.

In recent weeks, the U.S. President has adopted a more assertive tone on Russia while maintaining that dialogue remains essential. Zelensky’s upcoming Washington visit — his third this year — is expected to focus on securing advanced weaponry, including Tomahawk missiles capable of reaching deep inside Russian territory.

Concluding his post, Trump reiterated his optimism: “I believe great progress was made.” However, whether that optimism translates into tangible results at the Budapest peace talks remains uncertain.