▲ U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Russian President Vladimir Putin
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Ukraine war and bilateral trade issues in a phone call on the 16th local time.
The two countries are set to hold a high-level meeting next week, and a summit in Budapest, Hungary, is expected to be pursued soon.
President Trump stated on social media, “I just finished a phone call with President Putin, and it was a very productive conversation.”
He further mentioned, “We spent considerable time discussing trade issues between Russia and the United States after the Ukraine war, and we agreed to hold a high-level staff meeting next week.”
President Trump explained that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would lead the high-level meeting, and other participants would be designated later.
President Trump also revealed, “President Putin and I will meet in Budapest, Hungary, the agreed location, to discuss whether we can end this ‘inglorious’ war between Russia and Ukraine.”
Additionally, he noted, “President Putin congratulated me and the United States on achieving the great peace in the Middle East, a century-long aspiration, and I also believe that this success in the Middle East will aid in the Ukraine war settlement negotiations.”
President Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on the 17th local time.