WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump is intensifying his push to end the war in Ukraine, announcing plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, shortly after his upcoming White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump revealed the planned summit after holding a phone call with Putin on Thursday, calling the conversation “great progress.” The meeting will be their second of the year, following an August encounter in Alaska that failed to produce a breakthrough. According to Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, the Russian president initiated the call, warning Trump that any U.S. decision to sell long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would “inflict significant damage” on bilateral relations.
The timing of the Budapest summit is notable. Trump will meet Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday for their fourth in-person discussion this year. Zelenskyy has repeatedly pressed Washington to supply weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory, arguing that such moves would strengthen his hand in negotiations.
Trump has said he is weighing whether to approve the sale of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, a step that would mark a significant escalation in U.S. support. Military analysts note that such a sale would be more political than practical in the near term, given the years of training and logistics required to deploy the system. Instead, experts suggest Ukraine could benefit more immediately from deliveries of ERAM and ATACMS missiles, which have shorter ranges but are more readily integrated into Ukraine’s operations.
Trump’s renewed diplomatic focus comes after brokering a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas conflict, a development he celebrated during a high-profile trip to Israel and Egypt earlier this week. Ending the wars in Gaza and Ukraine has been central to his foreign policy agenda, which he contrasts sharply with the approach of his predecessor, Joe Biden.
The president’s remarks during a speech in Jerusalem underscored his priorities. “First we have to get Russia done,” he said, turning to his envoy Steve Witkoff. “We gotta get that one done. If you don’t mind, Steve, let’s focus on Russia first.”
Behind the scenes, the administration is also reviewing potential new economic measures against Moscow. The White House has quietly taken a closer look at Senate legislation that would impose steep tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy and other exports. Though Trump has not publicly endorsed the measure, officials have offered detailed edits to the bill, signalling a growing seriousness about potential new sanctions.
The upcoming Zelenskyy meeting and Budapest summit with Putin represent Trump’s most concerted attempt yet to bring an end to the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. Whether his personal diplomacy will succeed where previous efforts have stalled remains to be seen, but the flurry of activity underscores his intent to place U.S. power at the centre of negotiations.