President Trump has ignited fresh hope for a resolution in Ukraine with a bold announcement of a second summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, set to take place in Budapest, Hungary.
As reported by Axios, Trump revealed on Truth Social that he and Putin will meet in the Hungarian capital within the next two weeks to address the ongoing conflict, following a recent phone call where he claimed "great progress was made."
This development comes after a prior summit in Alaska yielded no concrete results, yet Trump remains determined to push forward, even as tensions simmer over potential U.S. military support to Ukraine. His choice of Budapest, proposed by Trump and swiftly accepted by Putin, signals a strategic nod to Hungary’s self-proclaimed role as a neutral "island of peace," as described by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on X.
During his call with Putin, Trump broached the contentious issue of supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, admitting he asked in a "lighthearted" way if Putin would mind "a couple thousand" of them. Putin, according to Trump, urged him not to, while Trump noted, "we need Tomahawks for the U.S. and we can’t deplete, so I don’t know what we can do."
This casual exchange belies a deeper rift, as Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov later clarified to reporters that the Russian leader warned such a move would damage U.S.-Russian relations and hinder peace efforts. While Trump dangles the idea of an ultimatum to Putin—negotiate seriously or face a better-armed Ukraine—the Kremlin’s "extreme concern" over missiles that could strike Moscow reveals just how high the stakes have climbed.
Ukraine, meanwhile, remains in limbo, with a Ukrainian official telling Axios they’re unsure if Trump will greenlight the Tomahawks, even as Kyiv pushes for faster deliveries of other U.S. weaponry like Patriot systems. This uncertainty only fuels the urgency of the Budapest meeting, where every word and gesture will be dissected for signs of a breakthrough or breakdown.
Hungary’s role as host, championed by Orbán, adds a curious twist to the diplomatic chessboard, with the prime minister’s enthusiastic X post framing his nation as a bastion of calm amid chaos. Trump’s conversation with Orbán about the summit suggests Budapest was chosen not just for logistics but as a symbolic middle ground, free from the baggage of past U.S.-Russia flashpoints.
Yet, one must wonder if Hungary’s involvement will be seen as truly neutral, given Orbán’s often cozy stance toward Moscow and his skepticism of Western overreach in the conflict. The optics of this location could either soothe or inflame distrust, depending on how the talks unfold in the coming weeks.
Preparations are already in motion, with Trump announcing that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to lay the groundwork. This preliminary dialogue, set for next week, could set the tone for whether Budapest becomes a historic turning point or just another footnote in a grinding war.
Trump’s parallel discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reveal another layer of complexity, as he hinted last week at pressuring Putin with the specter of Tomahawks if peace talks stall. Zelensky, keenly aware that these missiles could reach Moscow, argues they might finally force Russia to negotiate in earnest, a point that has clearly rattled the Kremlin.
But Trump’s hesitation to commit, coupled with his concern about depleting U.S. stockpiles, leaves Ukraine in a precarious spot, desperate for both the missiles and accelerated shipments of other defenses. Kyiv’s frustration is palpable, as they watch diplomatic maneuvers unfold while their battlefield needs grow ever more urgent.
The interplay between Trump’s summit plans and Zelensky’s demands will be critical, especially as Putin has repeatedly declined a direct meeting with the Ukrainian leader. If Budapest fails to bridge this gap, the Tomahawk question could become a lightning rod, either sparking escalation or forcing a reluctant compromise.
As the world watches, Trump’s optimism about "great progress" with Putin must be weighed against the hard reality of past failures and present mistrust. The Budapest summit, while a flicker of hope, faces the same stubborn obstacles that derailed the Alaska meeting, compounded by the looming shadow of military escalation.
Putin’s immediate agreement to the location and timing, as relayed by Ushakov, suggests a willingness to engage, yet his firm stance on U.S. weapons for Ukraine hints at inflexible red lines. For all of Trump’s deal-making flair, the path to peace remains a minefield, where a single misstep could undo even the best-laid plans.
In the end, Budapest offers a rare chance to shift the narrative from war to dialogue, but only if all parties can resist the pull of posturing over progress. With advisers meeting soon and the summit just weeks away, the question isn’t whether Trump can broker a deal, but whether the deal will hold up under the weight of such bitter divisions.
