Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest to work toward ending what he described as the “inglorious” war in Ukraine. The announcement followed a phone call that Trump described as “very productive.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Putin congratulated him and the United States on achieving “peace in the Middle East,” calling it an accomplishment “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,” Trump added.
Trump also noted that Putin expressed appreciation for First Lady Melania Trump’s humanitarian work with children and said it would 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,” Trump wrote.
Trump said both sides had agreed to convene high-level advisors next week to prepare the groundwork for the talks, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the American delegation. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the call took place at Russia’s initiative.
