Trump and Putin Plan Surprise Summit Amid Uncertainty Over U.S. Support for Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold another summit on the Ukraine war, a move that surprised many as Washington weighed new military aid for Kyiv. The two leaders discussed the matter in a two-hour phone call that Trump described as “productive,” with both sides confirming plans to meet in Budapest within the next two weeks, though no date has been set.

Trump, speaking at the White House, said he was confident a deal could be reached soon, highlighting his record as a dealmaker. The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prepared to visit Washington to push for more U.S. weapons, including long-range Tomahawk missiles.

While the White House had been considering increased military support for Ukraine, Trump’s conciliatory tone toward Moscow raised doubts about the aid package and fueled European concerns over possible U.S. concessions to Russia. Since taking office, Trump has alternated between threatening Moscow and softening his stance after direct talks with Putin.

During the call, Putin warned that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would harm peace efforts and strain U.S.-Russia relations. Trump later downplayed the warning, joking that Putin “doesn’t want Tomahawks” sent to Ukraine. Zelenskiy responded by saying Putin’s eagerness for talks showed Moscow was feeling pressure as reports of expanded U.S. support surfaced.

Budapest’s selection as the summit site has drawn attention due to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s close ties with Moscow and tense relations with Kyiv. Orban welcomed the meeting, calling it “great news for peace-loving people.”

The Trump-Putin summit will reportedly follow talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. As the war nears its fourth year, Ukraine continues to demand long-range weapons to strike Russian infrastructure, while Moscow intensifies its attacks across Ukraine.