Trump said the Russian president congratulated him on the ‘great accomplishment of peace in the Middle East’
Donald Trump will meet Vladimir Putin in Budapest to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, just days after welcoming Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House.
The US President said he held a “lengthy” phone call with Putin on Thursday afternoon, during which the Russian president congratulated him on the “Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East”.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet with Russian officials next week, followed by a summit between himself and Putin in Budapest. He did not give a precise date for either meeting.
It comes amid growing signs that Trump will supply American long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv to bolster its resistance against Russia.
Zelensky promises that Ukraine has “already prepared our part of the homework”. He added: “Every detail is ready. The agenda of our meeting with the President of the United States is very substantive, and I thank everyone who is helping.”
7 minutes ago
Trump says phone call with Putin was ‘very productive’
Trump has ended his phone call with Putin, saying it was “very productive” and that progress was made.
The pair are expected to meet again soon “to see if we can bring this “inglorious” war, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end,” Trump said.
Putin congratulated his administration on bringing peace to the Middle East, which Putin said had been “dreamed of for centuries”, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump said the “success” of the peace deal would help bring an end to the Ukraine war.
High-level advisors from Russia and the US, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are meeting next week, and Trump and Putin will then meet again in Budapest, Hungary.
Zelensky is going to see Trump in the Oval Office on Friday to discuss his conversation with Putin, and “much more”, Trump said.
Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 18:25
1 hour ago
Ukraine imposes emergency power cuts across every region
Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, has imposed emergency power cuts across all regions following Russia’s continuous attacks on its energy system.
It announced the cuts on Thursday following a large Russian attack overnight, which targeted the energy sector, alongside civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 17:20
1 hour ago
EU reveals five-year plan to defend against Russian attack
The European Union has unveiled its plan to ensure that it can defend itself from a Russian attack by the end of the decade, as Russia continues to test its defences through airspace violations across Europe.
It will include the European Drone Defence Initiative, which aims to build counter-drone capabilities to detect, track, and disable rogue drones.
The system is expected to be initially operational by December 2026 and fully functional in late 2027.
As she unveiled the European Commission’s plan, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said danger would not disappear, even if the Ukraine war were to end.
“Russia has no capacity to launch an attack on the European Union today, but it could prepare itself in the years to come.”
The drone system is part of the broader ‘Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030’, which proposes four flagship European defence projects.
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said: “The recent threats have shown that Europe is at risk. We have to protect every citizen and square centimetre of our territory.”
Harriette Boucher16 October 2025 16:57
2 hours ago
Trump confirms call with Putin has begun
Donald Trump has confirmed that his call with Vladimir Putin is now underway.
He wrote on Truth Social: “I am speaking to President Putin now. The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion.”
Daniel Keane16 October 2025 16:31
2 hours ago
Recap: What are Trump’s most recent comments on Ukraine?
Ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were central to Donald Trump’s reelection pitch in 2024.
In the Middle East, a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is holding – despite a row over the return of hostages held by the militant group.
Now Trump will turn his attention to Ukraine. He had told reporters traveling with him to Israel on Sunday that he had planned to discuss the provision of Tomahawks to Kyiv with Putin as a way to pressure him to end the war.
“Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said on Sunday. “I think I might speak to Russia about that.”
Daniel Keane16 October 2025 16:17
2 hours ago
Pictured: A residential building is seen on fire after a Russian strike in Nizhyn, Chernihiv
Bryony Gooch16 October 2025 16:00
2 hours ago
Trump and Putin to speak this evening before Zelensky’s White House visit
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold a phone call this evening – a day before the US president welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House.
The White House confirmed an earlier report in Axios that the two leaders would speak, amid growing signs that Trump is willing to offer further military support to Ukraine.
Trump has recently voiced his frustration with Putin over a lack of effort on Moscow’s part to end the war in Ukraine.
Daniel Keane16 October 2025 15:48
3 hours ago
Tomahawk missiles are Trump’s ace card for Ukraine – Zelensky says it’s time to play it
Tomahawk missiles are Trump’s ace card in Ukraine. Zelensky says it’s time to play it
Trump has shown he loves to back a winner – especially one who uses American weapons – which means Zelensky must convince him that he’s the one to back with Tomahawk missiles, writes Sam Kiley in Dnipro
Bryony Gooch16 October 2025 15:30
3 hours ago
Ukraine armed forces unload shells for M114 self-propelled howitzer in Donetsk
Bryony Gooch16 October 2025 15:00
4 hours ago
Ukraine in talks with international allies to raise funds for gas as energy infrastructures targeted
Ukraine’s cash-strapped government is in talks with international allies to raise funds to import more for gas the cold autumn and winter months.
Its air force said direct hits of 14 missiles and 37 drones were recorded overnight at 14 locations in the barrage, while 283 drones and five missiles were downed.
Russian drone strikes have also caused power cuts, with Ukraine limiting supplies to industrial consumers on Thursday.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed its forces had carried out a “massive strike” on Ukrainian gas infrastructure, which it said was supporting Kyiv’s military, in retaliation for what it said were Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Kyiv has ramped up its own attacks on Russian oil refineries in border regions and beyond, including on an oil refinery in the Saratov region on Thursday. Zelensky, who is due to meet president Donald Trump on Friday during a visit to the US, issued a fresh appeal for more long-range capabilities for Ukraine.
“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin has turned a deaf ear to everything the world says, so the only language that can still get through to him is the language of pressure,” he said.
“That is exactly what I will be discussing today and tomorrow in Washington.”
Bryony Gooch16 October 2025 14:30
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