The US president still believes in the possibility of a Zelensky Putin face-to-face meeting. The talks will start again next week
The phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putinon the eve of the visit of Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, was described as “good and productive” by the US president’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt. The two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine and promised to meet again, probably in Budapestafter a high-profile preliminary meeting. An announcement that comes just as Washington prepares for the visit of the Ukrainian leader and the Kremlin intensifies raids on Kyiv territory.
The Trump-Putin phone call
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“President Putin congratulated me and the United States on the great achievement of peace in the Middle East, something that, he said, has been a dream for centuries,” Trump said. “I truly believe that success in the Middle East will contribute to our negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.” The tycoon added that the conversation also touched on “future trade between Russia and the United States once the war is over.”
Satisfaction of Russia and Hungary
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Positive reactions from Moscow and Budapest. Kiril Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, called the talks “important for the whole world”, underlining that “the next steps have been clarified” between the two countries. In Hungary, the government of Viktor Orbán expressed appreciation for the possibility of Budapest hosting the next summit between the two leaders. “We’re ready!” wrote on X.
Zelensky at the White House
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Volodymyr Zelensky will arrive in Washington in the next few hours, to meet Donald Trump. A senior Ukrainian official explained that “the main topic of discussion is i Tomahawk“, that is, missile batteries capable of reaching targets 1,600 kilometers away. “Of course, there is also the issue of the Patriots.” The Kyiv delegation will present a new strategy based on strengthening offensive capacitytargeting long-range missiles to hit targets across the border. “Less words and more long-range attack capabilities,” said Mikhaylo Podolyak, Zelensky’s advisor. “After Russia sabotaged the diplomatic process initiated by President Trump, the White House is looking for a new path to peace.” Without the Tomahawks, they argue from Kyiv, it would be almost impossible to bring Moscow to the negotiating table.
Russian missiles on Kyiv
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This morning two Russian missiles hit one training base of Ukrainian forces. The Southern Operational Command reported this, explaining that there were “victims”, despite the security measures adopted. Meanwhile, Ukraine is struggling with new power outages throughout the country. “Due to the difficult situation in the energy system, emergency power cuts have been implemented in all regions of Ukraine,” the state operator Ukrenergo said in a statement. Rationing, imposed for the second consecutive day, while Russia increases attacks on the electricity grid with winter upon us.
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