Donald Trump has announced that he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are scheduled to have another in-person meeting following their previous controversial encounter earlier this year.
The two presidents engaged in a phone conversation discussing trade and the conflict in Ukraine, as President Trump endeavors to add another achievement to his record, despite his recent statement threatening to disrupt the peace deal he mediated between Palestine and Israel. Following the call, the US President and Putin agreed to meet, as indicated in a detailed post on Truth Social by Mr. Trump, with plans for “high level advisors” to connect as early as next week.
Upon the completion of these preliminary discussions, they will convene at a mutually agreed location, which Trump revealed to be Budapest, Hungary.
In his statement, Trump mentioned, “At the end of the call, we decided on a meeting of our High-Level Advisors next week. The initial meetings for the United States will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with other designated individuals.
“A meeting place is yet to be determined. President Putin and I will then meet at an agreed location, Budapest, Hungary, to explore the possibility of ending the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“President Zelenskyy and I are scheduled to meet tomorrow in the Oval Office to discuss my conversation with President Putin and other matters. I believe today’s phone call made significant progress.”
Budapest was likely selected by Mr. Trump for the meeting due to Hungary’s current leadership, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban being perceived as an ally of US conservatives and pro-Putin.
When Hungary, which heavily relies on Russia for its oil supply, assumed the presidency of the EU council, Orban chose to visit Moscow, sparking controversy by expressing intentions to unite Europe during his visit.
The announcement of the meeting coincided with Trump stating that Putin had “congratulated me and the United States on the Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East,” expressing optimism that progress in the Middle East could facilitate negotiations to end the conflict.
However, Trump has also threatened to disrupt the delicate peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, stating on his social media platform that he would take action against Hamas if it deviated from the terms of the peace deal.
He emphasized, “If Hamas persists in causing casualties in Gaza, which was not part of the agreement, we will be left with no option but to intervene and stop them. Thank you for addressing this issue!”
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