President Donald Trump hailed what he called a breakthrough in possible negotiations to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
The U.S. president spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than an hour Thursday, based on a pair of Truth Social posts about the call, and announced a meeting of "high-level advisers" next week at an as-yet undetermined location, and he said another meeting was set afterward between himself and Putin in Hungary.
"I have just concluded my telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, and it was a very productive one," Trump posted on Truth Social. "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," he added. "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."
Trump has expressed frustration with Putin since their meeting in Alaska in August, saying he did not know why the Russian leader was continuing the war against Ukraine, whose president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will visit the White House on Friday.
"President Zelenskyy and I will be meeting tomorrow, in the Oval Office, where we will discuss my conversation with President Putin, and much more," Trump said. "I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation."