Politics
JUST IN: Trump Announces Second Russia Summit
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will be holding a second summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, this time in Europe, in hopes of negotiating a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The announcement comes just a day ahead of the president’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Friday’s meeting is expected to prove crucial, as the White House is weighing the possibility of arming Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, which would greatly enhance their offensive capability and give the Ukrainian military the ability to strike deep into Russian territory.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump held a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which concluded with an agreement for additional meetings between the two nations starting next week.
“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 Trump posted on Truth Social.
The commander in chief further revealed that Putin thanked First Lady Melania Trump for her initiatives aimed at reuniting children with their families in Ukraine. “He was very appreciative, and said that this will continue,” President 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,” he added.
At the conclusion of the call, the two leaders agreed that meetings with high level advisers would be occurring starting 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,” Trump wrote.
Following those meetings, Putin and Trump will meet face-to-face once again, this time in Budapest, Hungary, for additional negotiations. “President Zelenskyy and I will be meeting tomorrow, in the Oval Office, where we will discuss my conversation with President Putin, and much more,” the president continued. “I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation.”
Trump and Putin met face-to-face in Anchorage, Alaska back in August for the first meeting between the two leaders since the conflict in wider Ukraine began in 2022. Both leaders described the talks as productive, though Trump has ratcheted up pressure on Moscow in recent weeks, mainly through the possibility of transferring long range offensive weapons to Ukraine.
Friday’s White House meeting with President Zelensky is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
