U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held what the White House described as a “good and productive” phone call on Thursday, lasting over two hours.
According to officials, both leaders agreed to organize a high-level meeting between U.S. and Russian staff next week, which could pave the way for a face-to-face summit in Budapest, Hungary.
A White House spokeswoman said that President Trump “feels progress was made” during the discussion and that he intends “to move the ball forward for peace.” She added that Trump believes “it is still possible to bring Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy together,” confirming that Putin has agreed to meet with Trump.
On his Truth Social account, Trump called the exchange “very productive” and announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head the U.S. delegation for the initial diplomatic meetings with Russian officials. The exact location of those talks has not yet been determined.
Trump also shared that the two leaders spent considerable time discussing future U.S.–Russia trade relations once the conflict in Ukraine ends. According to Trump, Putin expressed his gratitude to First Lady Melania Trump for “her involvement with children” during their conversation.
The call is being viewed by analysts as another step toward renewed U.S.–Russia diplomatic engagement, as both sides seek avenues for potential peace negotiations and economic cooperation post-conflict.
