In a new diplomatic push, President Trump has revealed plans for a high-stakes summit with Putin in Budapest, Hungary, with the objective of halting the grinding war in Ukraine.
The announcement, made after what was said to be a “very productive” two-hour phone call on October 16, is another ambitious attempt by Trump to broker peace with tensions escalating.
Putin quickly agreed to the venue, showing some potential momentum in a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since Russia’s 2022 invasion. As Trump prepares to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, the question that is on everyone’s lips is: Can this Trump-Putin dialogue finally end the war?
Trump-Putin phone call ignites hope for ending Ukraine war
The Trump-Putin call covered Ukraine peace talks, post-war US-Russia trade, and Middle East breakthroughs like the Gaza ceasefire. Trump called the meeting “highly informative”, while Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov announced Putin’s congratulations on Gaza and Russia’s concerns over US Tomahawk missiles being sent to Ukraine.
No ceasefire timeline surfaced, however advisor meetings were set, building on Trump’s frustration from the failed August 2025 Alaska summit. That three-hour gathering ended up with zero concessions from Putin, which led to Trump swinging to Budapest, a site considered earlier but scrapped for US soil. Experts warn the war’s end depends on leverage, not optics.
Zelenskyy-Trump talks link to Putin war strategy
Zelenskyy’s White House visit on Thursday, October 16, ties directly into the Trump-Putin meeting announcement, with Trump planning to brief him on the call. Zelenskyy is asking for Tomahawk missiles, capable of 2,500 km strikes into Russia. Putin called them “escalatory” during the discussion, viewing them as a threat to peace. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, a Putin apologist, cheered Budapest as “great news for peace,” despite his EU aid vetoes.
Risks and rewards in Trump-Putin war diplomacy
Will the Budapest summit end the Ukraine war? Analysts predict some limited progress, with 70 per cent doubting a quick resolution per recent polls. Trump is hoping to sail the crest of the wave with Gaza’s success, but Putin is likely to stall for concessions. Direct Trump-Putin talks risk eroding NATO unity and emboldening Moscow, as seen with Alaska’s flop. Yet, a post-war trade revival, at pre-invasion levels, hit $30B, quite the carrot dangling. Evelyn Farkas of the McCain Institute cautions, “Putin wants a sphere of influence; Trump risks enabling it.” As war fatigue grows and winter approaches, the Budapest meet could redefine alliances or deepen divides.
