Trump and Putin agree to face-to-face showdown in Nato territory

US President Donald Trump has declared that "great progress" was made during a groundbreaking phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, as the two powerhouses agreed to high-stakes face-to-face talks in Hungary.

The much-anticipated call, the first between the leaders since mid-August, was hailed as "very productive" by Trump, who revealed that teams from Washington and Moscow are set to meet next week in a bid to tackle the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

While Trump refrained from confirming a specific date for the momentous meeting with Putin in Budapest, the Kremlin wasted no time in announcing that work on the summit would commence "immediately" following the "extremely frank and trustful" call.

The talks come at a critical juncture, with Ukraine's President Zelensky poised to visit the White House and Trump weighing the decision to arm Ukraine with powerful Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep into Russia's heartland.

Zelensky: Moscow 'rushing to resume dialogue'

As he touched down on US soil, Zelensky boldly claimed that Moscow was "rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks," suggesting that the mere threat of the formidable weapons had sent shockwaves through the Kremlin.

The Ukrainian leader's visit to Washington is expected to be dominated by discussions on the potential transfer of the game-changing missiles.

Trump and Putin discuss post-war trade

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump shed light on the wide-ranging discussions with Putin, revealing that the two leaders "spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over."

He announced that "high level advisors" from both nations would convene at an undisclosed location next week, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio spearheading the American delegation.

Trump assured that he would brief Zelensky on his talks with Putin during the Ukrainian president's visit to the White House on Friday, emphasizing his belief that "great progress was made with today's telephone conversation."

The US president later told reporters that he anticipated a face-to-face meeting with Putin "within two weeks," signaling a potential breakthrough in the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Tomahawk dilemma

When pressed on the prospect of providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine following his call with Putin, Trump expressed reservations, stating, "we can't deplete" the US stockpile of the powerful weapons.

He acknowledged the need for the missiles in the US arsenal, admitting, "we need them too... so I don't know what we can do about that."

Ukraine slams Russia's 'real attitude toward peace'

Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, lambasted Russia for launching overnight strikes on Ukraine "hours before" Putin's call with Trump, arguing that the attacks "exposes Moscow's real attitude toward peace."

In a statement to CBS, she characterized Moscow's strategy as one of "terror and exhaustion," calling for tougher sanctions, reinforced air defense, and the supply of long-range capabilities as the "only effective response."

Hungarian PM hails Budapest meeting

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban took to X to celebrate the planned Budapest meeting between Trump and Putin, describing it as "great news for the peace-loving people of the world."

Earlier, he had advocated for a shift in Europe's stance, urging for negotiations with Russia instead of "arrogance and fanning the flames of endless war."