U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold a new summit aimed at discussing the possibility of ending the war in Ukraine. The surprising agreement was announced on Thursday (October 16, 2025) local time, amid Moscow’s growing concerns over potential new U.S. military aid to Kyiv.

Trump revealed that he and Putin plan to meet in Budapest, Hungary, within the next two weeks, following a phone conversation lasting more than two hours.
"All my life, I’ve been making deals," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I believe we’re going to settle this one — hopefully soon," he added, as reported by Reuters.

The Kremlin confirmed the meeting plan, though no exact date has yet been announced by either side.

The move comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to arrive at the White House on Friday to seek additional military support, including the possible delivery of U.S.-made long-range Tomahawk missiles.

In recent days, Trump had hinted at his willingness to provide new assistance to Kyiv. However, the friendly tone he displayed after his conversation with Putin has raised questions about whether that support will continue — and sparked renewed European concerns that Washington might take a softer stance toward Moscow.

Since taking office in January, Trump has frequently threatened to take tough measures against Russia, but has repeatedly postponed them after speaking directly with Putin. During their August meeting in Alaska, Trump attempted to negotiate a ceasefire, though no progress was made.

Several analysts believe that Putin is likely using the meeting as an opportunity to gain concessions rather than a genuine effort to end the war.

Trump, for his part, has portrayed himself as a peacemaker and skilled negotiator, often boasting about his success in mediating ceasefires and hostage releases in Gaza. He has also claimed that the Russia–Ukraine war, which began in 2022, would be easier to end due to his good personal relationship with Putin.

During their latest phone call, Putin warned Trump that sending long-range missiles to Ukraine would undermine peace efforts and damage U.S.–Russia relations.
"That would have a negative impact on the peace process and Russian–American relations," said Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov.

Meanwhile, Zelensky, who has already arrived in Washington, responded to the news with confidence.
"We hope that the momentum of ending terror and achieving peace in the Middle East will help bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on X.
"We’ve seen Moscow rush back to the negotiation table right after hearing about the Tomahawks," he added.

The choice of Budapest as the meeting location has also drawn global attention, since Putin remains wanted in several jurisdictions for alleged war crimes, restricting his travel options.

Tensions between Ukraine and Hungary have recently escalated. Last month, Zelensky accused Hungary of flying drones into Ukrainian airspace, an accusation denied by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Orban responded by stating that “Ukraine is not a sovereign and independent country.”

Unlike most NATO and European Union leaders, Orban has maintained close ties with Russia and questioned the effectiveness of Western military support for Kyiv, a stance that has repeatedly caused friction with Zelensky.

"The planned meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents is good news for all peace-loving people around the world," Orban wrote on X.
"We are ready!" he added, noting that he had spoken directly with Trump and that preparations for the U.S.–Russia peace summit were already underway.

Trump mentioned that the summit would be preceded by ministerial-level discussions between both countries next week. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will represent Washington, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will lead Moscow’s delegation.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that he would brief Zelensky on his conversation with Putin during their meeting at the White House on Friday.
"I believe significant progress was made during today’s call," he wrote.

Meanwhile, the fighting on the ground continues to intensify. Both Ukraine and Russia are carrying out massive strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure, while NATO struggles to handle the surge in Russian airspace violations.

Attacks on energy facilities have been a key part of Moscow’s war strategy for the past two winters, as the conflict enters its fourth year.