Donald Trump Hosts Volodymyr Zelenskyy Amid Secret Talks with Vladimir Putin to Control Ukraine War Escalation

Donald Trump is hosting Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House while advancing a new round of talks with Vladimir Putin.

“Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington to discuss a recent phone call and related issues”

News18

These talks include a planned summit in Budapest following what Trump described as a lengthy and "very productive" phone call.

News18

Sky News reports that Russia initiated the nearly two-and-a-half-hour call and that Zelenskyy is not expected to attend the Budapest session.

CNN notes that no specific date is set for the summit and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will first lead a U.S. delegation to meet Russian officials.

NBC News adds that Rubio’s talks are to occur at a secret location and that this diplomatic push follows an earlier, unsuccessful Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

Scripps News also recalls that the Alaska meeting was "unproductive."

NPR says Trump will brief Zelenskyy at the White House about the call and prepare diplomatic next steps.

A central point of tension is Ukraine’s push for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

CNN reports the topic was discussed on the Trump-Putin call and that the Kremlin said Trump acknowledged Russia’s concerns.

Interfax-Ukraine

Newsweek notes Moscow warned U.S. supplies could trigger a serious response but also would not significantly alter the battlefield.

StratNews Global says Trump’s conciliatory tone and opposition to supplying long-range missiles raised doubts about near-term aid.

Devdiscourse reports Trump supports supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles if Russia refuses to negotiate.

UNITED24 Media quotes a Putin aide arguing Tomahawks would not affect the battlefield and would harm relations.

This view echoes Sky News’ summary of Putin’s warning.

Europe’s role—and Hungary’s in particular—shapes the optics and stakes of the current geopolitical situation.

“US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to hold another summit soon, possibly within two weeks in Budapest, to discuss the war in Ukraine”

sightmagazine.au

Sky News reports that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of Putin, welcomed the Budapest summit and that Zelenskyy was not invited.

Sightmagazine.au highlights Hungary’s tense relations with Ukraine and Orban’s relatively friendly stance toward Russia.

The Kyiv Independent states that Hungary has blocked military aid to Ukraine while supporting the meeting.

The BBC describes Kyiv’s reaction as cautious and somewhat disappointed, viewing the Trump-Putin call as a potential setback that rewards Putin with another summit instead of increased military aid.

The Independent emphasizes European defense measures and notes that the U.S. may not supply Tomahawk missiles despite having large stockpiles.

On the ground, Zelenskyy urges tougher sanctions and longer-range weapons as Russia escalates strikes on energy infrastructure.

ABC News reports he called for 'updated sanctions' and long-range capabilities to hit deeper into Russia.

The Guardian

WWNY says he will press for Tomahawks and 'tougher sanctions,' while the White House considers tariffs on countries buying Russian energy.

Sightmagazine.au and Devdiscourse add that Trump wants to pressure India and China to stop buying Russian oil, with Devdiscourse saying India is 'reducing' purchases.

However, sightmagazine.au notes India 'has not confirmed' these reductions.

Amid these policy debates, Evrim Ağacı reports a U.S. $825 million package and a policy shift allowing extended-range strikes inside Russia, a claim not echoed in the mainstream sources cited here.

The diplomatic optics are unusual as WION and The National Desk report that Putin congratulated Trump on a Middle East ceasefire.

“US President Donald Trump announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, which he described as “inglorious”

India Today

Both outlets and CNN note that the call topics ranged from peace in the Middle East to future U.S.–Russia trade, and even included praise for Melania Trump’s humanitarian work.

India Today

Metro.co.uk highlights Trump’s plan to meet Zelenskyy soon and his threat to Hamas.

Mediaite and Scripps News revisit the leaders’ prior Alaska summit, described as unproductive, to frame the stakes for Budapest.

NBC News adds that Rubio’s team will hold pre-summit talks at a secret location, underscoring the covert choreography behind this push to rein in escalation in Ukraine.