Putin and Trump’s Hungary meeting could take place within two weeks

The Kremlin on Friday confirmed that a meeting in Hungary between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump could take place within the next two weeks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing in Moscow:

“It could indeed take place within two weeks or a little later. Overall, there is no need to delay the process.”

Trump had previously said the meeting could be held in Budapest within two weeks, following talks between high-level delegations next week. He described his Thursday phone call with Putin as “very productive.”

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that the call was “very substantive, yet also extremely frank and confidential.” The two presidents discussed the possibility of holding another face-to-face meeting and agreed that representatives from both sides would immediately begin preparations for a summit, with Budapest considered as a potential venue.

Peskov told reporters that the decision to select Hungary was mutually agreed, but the logistics of Putin’s travel have yet to be finalised. He also noted that Hungary’s position as both a NATO and EU member gives it a “unique standing in terms of sovereignty and defending its own interests.”

The spokesman added that the presidents are willing to hold the meeting, but preparations should proceed in stages, with the matter first discussed between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Peskov also said that during the Thursday call, Putin made Russia’s position on potential US deliveries of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine “crystal clear.” Putin has previously warned that such deliveries would “destroy” U.S. -Russia ties and lead to a “completely new, qualitatively different stage of escalation.”

The spokesman recalled that the call had been initiated by Russia following Trump’s trip to the Middle East, and that Putin’s first thought was to congratulate Trump on his success.

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