President Donald Trump waits to greet leaders during a summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Associated Press
President Donald Trump is stepping up his efforts to mediate the war in Ukraine. He announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, shortly before his scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.
Trump shared the news after a Thursday phone call with Putin. While the exact date is not set, he indicated the meeting could happen in about two weeks.
“I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation,” Trump said on social media.
The two leaders last met in Alaska in August, but that encounter failed to produce a diplomatic breakthrough. Trump had hoped his long-standing relationship with Putin would help end the conflict that began nearly four years ago.
Putin Initiates “Frank” Call
According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, the Russian president initiated the phone call. He described the conversation as “very frank and trusting.” Putin reportedly warned Trump that supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could “inflict significant damage” on U.S.-Russia relations.
Trump is set to meet Zelenskyy on Friday. The Ukrainian leader has requested weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory. He believes such capabilities would push Putin to engage in direct negotiations.
Trump previously said the U.S. has “a lot of Tomahawks,” but on Thursday he acknowledged that stockpiles are limited. “We have a lot of them, but we need them,” he explained. “We can’t deplete for our country.”
Trump Pushes to Fulfill Campaign Promises
Trump’s renewed focus on Ukraine follows his recent success in mediating a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He celebrated the diplomatic win with a visit to Israel and Egypt earlier this week.
Ending conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza was central to Trump’s campaign last year. He repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of both wars.
Despite progress in Gaza, Trump has struggled to persuade Putin to meet directly with Zelenskyy. In a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem, he suggested that the Gaza truce could pave the way for broader U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East. However, he emphasized that resolving the war in Ukraine remains his top foreign policy priority.
“First we have to get Russia done,” Trump said, addressing his special envoy Steve Witkoff. “Let’s focus on Russia first.”
Weighing Tomahawk Missiles for Ukraine
Trump and Zelenskyy’s Friday meeting will mark their fourth in-person discussion this year. Their relationship has improved since a tense initial Oval Office meeting.
Trump is considering selling Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, a move Putin has warned could harm Moscow-Washington relations. Experts say delivering such missiles would take years, including training Ukrainian forces.
Mark Montgomery, an analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, suggested Ukraine might benefit more immediately from ERAM or ATACMS missiles, which the U.S. has already approved for sale. Tomahawks, with a 995-mile range, could strike deeper into Russia than ERAM (285 miles) or ATACMS (186 miles).
Montgomery noted that supplying Tomahawks is as much a political decision as a military one. Shorter-range missiles could still disrupt Russian logistics and command structures near the front lines.
White House Eyes New Russia Sanctions
Meanwhile, the Senate is considering legislation to impose tariffs on countries buying Russian energy and exports. The goal is to weaken Moscow economically. Trump has not formally endorsed the bill, but the White House has engaged with lawmakers on revisions.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said senators could review the legislation within 30 days. Trump, however, urged caution. “I’m not against anything,” he said. “It may not be perfect timing.”
Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that significant pressure is needed to deter Putin. She cautioned that the war is unlikely to end soon.
