President Donald Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet face-to-face in Hungary next week in a post shared on his Truth Social account following their phone conversation on Thursday (October 16).

Trump had previously shared a post confirming he was talking to Putin earlier in the day, hours before his scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday (October 17) amid Russia's yearslong invasion of Ukraine.

"I have just concluded my telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, and it was a very productive one," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. "President Putin congratulated me and the United States on the Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East, something that, he said, has been dreamed of for centuries. I actually believe that the Success in the Middle East will help in our negotiation in attaining an end to the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin thanked the First Lady, Melania, for her involvement with children. He was very appreciative, and said that this will continue. We also spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over. At the conclusion of the call, we agreed that there will be a meeting of our High Level Advisors, next week. The United States’ initial meetings will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, together with various other people, to be designated. A meeting location is to be determined. President Putin and I will then meet in an agreed upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this 'inglorious' War, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end. President Zelenskyy and I will be meeting tomorrow, in the Oval Office, where we will discuss my conversation with President Putin, and much more. I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation."

Trump and Putin had previously met for a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, in August, which was followed by Zelenskyy and other European leaders meeting at the White House days later.

"Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account in August. "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Podcasts