US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold discussions in Budapest, Hungary, aiming to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This decision follows a phone call on October 16, 2023, just one day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Washington. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump indicated that their meeting is intended to explore ways to conclude what he termed the “inglorious” war between Russia and Ukraine.
The upcoming discussions will involve a delegation from the United States, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The exact location for the initial negotiations between the US and Russian teams has yet to be determined. Trump expressed optimism about the timeline for the talks, suggesting that the meeting with Putin could occur “within two weeks” and will be hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Both the Kremlin and the White House characterized the recent dialogue between Trump and Putin as “good” and “productive.” Yury Ushakov, a senior foreign policy adviser to the Kremlin, described the conversation as “extremely frank and trustful.” He noted that further discussions regarding the specifics of the meeting would take place between Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the coming days.
The timing of this call coincides with Zelenskyy’s visit to the United States, where he expressed hope that advancements in the Middle East peace process could facilitate an end to the war in Ukraine. Following his arrival in Washington, Zelenskyy remarked on Telegram that it seemed Russia was eager to resume dialogue, particularly after hearing about Trump’s potential plan to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles.
During the phone call, Trump disclosed that he had broached the subject of providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, stating, “I did actually say, would you mind if I gave a couple of thousands of Tomahawks to your opposition?” He mentioned that Putin was not favorable to the idea. Following this, Trump is scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on October 17, 2023, to further discuss his conversation with Putin, alongside other topics such as Ukraine’s air defenses and long-range strike capabilities.
Trump has openly expressed his frustration with Putin’s stance on the war, declaring that the Russian president does not appear interested in resolving the conflict, which he believes reflects poorly on him. The discussions have gained urgency, especially considering the potential US decision to provide long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, a move that the Kremlin has cautioned against.
While Trump has not dismissed the possibility of supplying these weapons, he has highlighted the importance of maintaining US military resources, stating that the country cannot “deplete” its own Tomahawk stock. These missiles possess a range of up to 2,500 kilometers and can be fitted with nuclear warheads. He described them as a “vicious, offensive, and incredibly destructive weapon,” emphasizing that “nobody wants Tomahawks shot at them.”
In response to the dialogue between Trump and Putin, Ushakov reiterated that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine would not alter the battlefield dynamics but would undermine peace efforts and further strain US-Russia relations. As the situation develops, the outcome of the upcoming high-level meetings could significantly influence the trajectory of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and international relations.
