Washington [US]– US President Donald Trump has announced that he had concluded a “very productive” phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, centering on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and broader diplomatic and economic issues.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump highlighted that Putin congratulated the US on its “Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East,” a development Trump believes could positively influence negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The discussion also covered trade between the two countries once hostilities conclude. Trump said, “We also spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over.”
The leaders agreed to a meeting of their high-level advisors next week, chaired by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials, with the venue to be determined. Trump also mentioned plans for a direct meeting with Putin in Budapest, Hungary, aimed at finding a resolution to the “inglorious” war in Ukraine.
Trump noted that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday to discuss the call and other matters. He previously warned Zelenskyy that the US might provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles unless Moscow engages seriously in peace talks.
The conversation comes amid a strategic US push to restart stalled negotiations with Russia. Following the failed Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, the US has stepped up intelligence sharing with Ukraine, including targeting information within Russian territory. Zelenskyy is expected to request more long-range weapons during his White House visit, reflecting a potential shift in Trump’s stance on the conflict.
