Ukraine Ceasefire Push: Trump Meets Zelenskyy, Announces Putin Summit in Budapest

Washington/Budapest, October 18, 2025 – President Donald Trump’s whirlwind diplomatic push for a Ukraine ceasefire is accelerating, following a pivotal White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the announcement of an upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary.

The latest developments underscore the US President's intensified efforts to broker an end to the nearly three-year-old conflict, positioning himself as a global peacemaker fresh off his successful mediation of a Gaza ceasefire.

White House Talks: Peace Before Missiles

President Trump hosted President Zelenskyy at the White House yesterday (October 17) for over two hours of talks that largely focused on a peace settlement, though critical military aid remained on the agenda.

Zelenskyy, who came to Washington hoping to secure a green light for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, left with no firm commitment. President Trump expressed hesitation over providing the powerful weapons, stating the US needs to reserve its own stockpile and suggesting the focus should be on ending the war immediately.

"We'd much rather have them not need Tomahawks," Trump told reporters, while imploring both sides to "stop the killing" and "stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!"—a sentiment he reiterated on social media.

Zelenskyy, who has been vocal about his need for Tomahawks to pressure Russia into serious negotiations, acknowledged the US position but expressed hope in Trump's mediation abilities, citing his success in the Middle East.

Budapest Summit Announced

The high-stakes meeting with Zelenskyy was preceded by a "very productive" phone call between President Trump and President Putin, during which they agreed to hold a bilateral summit in Budapest, Hungary.

While a date is yet to be confirmed, the meeting is expected in the coming weeks and will be preceded by high-level talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The choice of Budapest, a city led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—who has maintained cordial ties with Moscow and questioned EU sanctions—has been welcomed by the Hungarian government, which has offered to host the meeting as an "island of peace."

Trump has indicated that a three-way meeting involving Zelenskyy and Putin may not be possible due to "tremendous bad blood" between the two leaders, hinting at the possibility of separate, mediated talks.

The planned Budapest summit and the lack of a Tomahawk commitment have caused anxiety in Kyiv and among European allies, who worry the US is tilting toward a quick ceasefire that might see Ukraine forced to concede territory. Kyiv maintains that security guarantees and NATO membership remain key components of any durable peace deal.

For now, all eyes are on the upcoming diplomatic flurry, as President Trump seeks to turn his peace plan rhetoric into a reality on the European continent.