US President Donald Trump engaged in a “very productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. This significant discussion occurred just one day before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that high-level US and Russian advisers would convene next week, with plans for an in-person summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest to explore an end to the Ukraine conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to meet with Russian counterparts to advance these peace efforts. The timing of this call underscores the complex geopolitical landscape Trump is navigating, balancing engagement with both Ukraine and Russia as he seeks potential diplomatic resolutions to the ongoing war. The planned meeting in Hungary’s capital aims to de-escalate tensions and find a pathway towards peace, though specific dates remain undisclosed.
