Washington (TDI): After a phone call that lasted more than two hours, Trump has once again readied himself to meet Russian President Putin, in hopes for a diplomatic and negotiated settlement to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump said he will meet Putin in “two weeks or so” in Budapest likely. The call between the two leaders came before Zelensky’s scheduled meeting with Trump, on Friday, where the Ukrainian leader is set to convince Trump to give Tomahawks missiles.
After Thursday’s talk with Putin, Trump did not look very convinced about handing over weapons, that possess deep and penetrative strike capability, to Ukraine, while the latter want them to strike deep inside Russia.
The meeting in Budapest will be the second such meeting between the two Presidents after the Alaska Summit in August, which did not prove to be any consequential in ending the war or at least creating a possibility for it.
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“Tomahawk is a vicious weapon,” Trump said. “It’s a vicious, offensive, incredibly destructive weapon. Nobody wants Tomahawks shot at them.” His statement makes it unlikely for the US to give the missiles to Ukraine.
Putin, for his part, warned Trump against providing these weapons to Ukraine, while war rages on. “My whole life, I’ve made deals,” Trump told reporters at the White House after the call. “I think we’re going to have this one done, hopefully soon.”
Prior to this call between the two leaders, Trump was more inclined towards Ukraine and seemed more willing to ramp up support in the form of weapons. At the same time, Trump expressed frustration with Putin for not making any headway.
After the call, Trump has once again picked up the hope of a negotiation. At Alaska Summit, he pressed Putin to have a direct meeting with the Ukrainian President; something which could not come about until this day.
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