Trump lines up meetings with Zelenskyy, Putin in push to end Ukraine war

Russian air attacks hit Ukraine's gas sector

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FE Team | Published: October 17, 2025 22:03:44

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WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Agencies): US President Donald Trump said Thursday he will soon meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine, following a "productive" phone call between the two leaders.
Trump, who is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, wrote on social media that "great progress" had been made during his latest conversation with Putin. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán welcomed the announcement, saying, "We are ready!"
Before the Trump-Putin meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead US officials in talks with Russian representatives next week.
Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump - their fourth this year - is expected to focus on Kyiv's request to buy Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russian territory. The Ukrainian president argues such weapons could pressure Moscow to take peace talks seriously.
Trump has said he's weighing the sale but acknowledged the move would be "as much political as military." Russian officials have warned that supplying Tomahawks would cross a "red line" and worsen relations.
Analysts say Ukraine may benefit more immediately from Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles and ATACMS systems already approved for sale by Washington. The Tomahawk, with a range of about 1,600 kilometers, would dramatically expand Ukraine's strike capacity.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks have forced Ukraine to suspend activities at several major gas facilities this month, the state energy company said on Thursday, leaving Kyiv in need of more imports.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet US Donald Trump on Friday, with potential US energy procurement for Kyiv as well as weapon sales believed to be on the table.
In its latest barrage, Russia launched more than 300 drones and 37 missiles to target infrastructure across Ukraine in overnight attacks on Thursday, Zelenskiy said.
"This autumn, the Russians use every single day to strike at our energy infrastructure," he said on X.
Russia has been hitting Ukraine's energy and power facilities for consecutive winters as the war drags into its fourth year, initially focusing on electricity but this year increasingly targeting gas infrastructure.
Sergii Koretskyi, CEO of state energy company Naftogaz, said there had been six major attacks on gas facilities this month alone. The latest hits damaged facilities in several regions with operations halted at some, he said.
Hungary vows safe passage for
Putin for US-Russia summit
Hungary's foreign minister said on Friday that his country would ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin can enter and "hold successful talks" with the US despite an ICC arrest warrant against him.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Putin held a phone call on Friday to discuss the planned US-Russian summit in Budapest.
US President Donald Trump, in his latest abrupt pivot on Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, announced he expected to meet Putin in Budapest within two weeks in a fresh bid to reach a peace deal.
Orban is Trump's and Putin's closest ally in the European Union and a staunch critic of Western support for Kyiv.
"We look forward to welcoming President Vladimir Putin with respect, and we will of course ensure that he can enter Hungary, hold successful talks here, and then return home," Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told a press conference.
Orban said on Facebook he had a call with Putin, adding "preparations are in full swing!"
The Kremlin said the discussion took place at Orban's behest, who "expressed his readiness to organise a possible Russian-American summit in Budapest."
But the logistics of the visit remain unclear, especially as the EU has closed its airspace for Russian-registered planes after Moscow invaded Ukraine three years ago.
The Kremlin said earlier that "many" questions need to be solved before the summit.
Orban said earlier Budapest is the "essentially only place in Europe today where such a meeting can be held" because of what he described as Hungary's "consistent" stance for peace.