U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold a summit in Budapest aimed at advancing negotiations to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, following what Trump described as a “very productive” phone call between the two leaders.

The announcement came just a day before Trump’s planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, where the U.S. president is expected to brief his Ukrainian counterpart on the outcomes of the talks with Moscow and possible next steps toward a negotiated settlement. Zelensky is also expected to press Washington for additional military assistance, including long-range weapons systems.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the two-hour conversation with Putin had yielded “great progress,” emphasizing that both sides had agreed to pursue a diplomatic path toward ending what he called the “inglorious war” between Russia and Ukraine.

“I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation,” Trump wrote. “President Putin and I will meet in Budapest to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ war to an end.”

While no official date has been set for the summit, both governments confirmed that lower-level discussions between Washington and Moscow would begin next week to prepare for the talks.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters in Moscow that the call had been arranged “on our initiative” and that the two leaders had underscored the “deep mutual sympathies” between their nations, citing historical cooperation during World War II.

“It was highlighted that the current state of affairs in bilateral relations looks paradoxical amid this,” Ushakov said, confirming that both sides had agreed to begin immediate preparations for the Budapest meeting.

He added that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would hold a phone conversation in the coming days as part of the preparatory process.

According to Trump’s account, Putin congratulated him on what he described as the “Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East,” saying it was “an achievement dreamed of for centuries.” Trump suggested that recent diplomatic progress in the Middle East could help pave the way for peace in Ukraine.

The two leaders also reportedly discussed post-war trade relations and humanitarian efforts, with Putin expressing appreciation for First Lady Melania Trump’s charitable work with children.

Ushakov later confirmed that Putin reiterated Russia’s “principled position” on achieving a comprehensive Middle East settlement within a framework of international law, emphasizing sustainable peace for all peoples in the region.

The phone call took place amid intensifying fighting in Ukraine and growing concerns over U.S. weapons deliveries. Kyiv has reportedly requested long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would allow it to strike deep into Russian territory.

Trump has previously said he could consider such a move if Moscow refused to engage in meaningful peace efforts. However, Ushakov warned that the delivery of Tomahawks to Ukraine would not alter the situation on the battlefield but would “seriously damage Russia–U.S. relations.”

“Vladimir Putin reiterated that the Tomahawks will not change the situation on the frontlines but will cause significant harm to relations between our countries,” Ushakov said.

He added that Putin had reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Ahead of the call, Trump claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to halt Russian oil purchases, and that his administration would urge China to take similar measures.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that Washington would “continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression” unless the conflict was brought to an end.

Trump confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head the American delegation in next week’s preliminary talks with Russian officials to lay the groundwork for the Budapest summit.

Analysts say the planned summit marks one of the most direct diplomatic initiatives between the U.S. and Russia since the start of the Ukraine war. However, it remains uncertain whether the move will produce any immediate breakthrough or change the dynamics on the battlefield.

If held, the Budapest summit would be the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since Trump’s return to office, signaling a potential shift toward renewed great-power diplomacy in the ongoing effort to end the Ukraine conflict. (ILKHA)