**Trump to Meet Putin in Budapest to Discuss Ending the Ukraine War Following Gaza Ceasefire**

*By Alexey Nikolsky | AFP | Getty Images*

Russia was an indirect beneficiary of the recent war in Gaza, as it distracted the U.S. and other Western countries from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, now that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been established and a fledgling peace process has begun, U.S. President Donald Trump is turning his attention toward ending the war in Ukraine.

**Upcoming Trump-Putin Meeting in Budapest**

President Trump announced on Thursday that he and other “high-level advisors” will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss how to bring the conflict to an end. This announcement follows a recent phone call between the two leaders, during which Trump said Putin congratulated him on the “great accomplishment of peace in the Middle East.”

“President Putin and I will then meet in an agreed upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ war between Russia and Ukraine to an end. I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

This upcoming meeting will mark the second face-to-face encounter between the leaders during Trump’s second term and could take place within the next two weeks, according to the U.S. President.

**Tomahawk Missiles as Leverage**

One way the White House is increasing pressure on Moscow is by raising the possibility of supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, with the missile supply expected to be a key topic of discussion.

Earlier this week, Trump told reporters that he might use the Tomahawk missiles as leverage with Russia, stating, “I could tell Putin: ‘Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks.’”

In a related development, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised on Wednesday that additional “firepower” was coming for Ukraine, though he did not mention Tomahawks specifically.

Russia has expressed strong opposition to the potential transfer of sophisticated missiles capable of striking military and industrial targets within Russia from up to 1,000 miles away. The Kremlin warned that such a move would represent a “serious escalation.”

**Renewed Push for Peace**

This week, Trump openly declared that he and his envoys plan to immediately renew efforts to end the war in Ukraine, which is now approaching its fourth anniversary.

Addressing Israeli lawmakers on Monday during celebrations of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, Trump told the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, “We have to get Russia done. Steve, let’s focus on Russia first, alright? We’ll get it [done],” addressing U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Having previously boasted that he could end the Ukraine war in just “one day,” Trump admitted this week that the situation has proven more complicated than anticipated. He stated, “I thought it would be easily settled. I thought it was a hell of a lot easier than doing what we just did [in Gaza].”

Victoria Coates, vice president at the Heritage Foundation’s Davis Institute and a deputy national security advisor during Trump’s first administration, told CNBC this week that the Gaza ceasefire is likely to impact efforts to resolve the Ukraine war.

“The momentum behind resolving the Gaza conflict can help get to a resolution of the Ukraine war,” Coates said on CNBC’s *Squawk Box*. “All these other countries the president was meeting with this week, and getting them behind conflict resolution, can lead to maybe putting some pressure on Putin to come to the table. So this can have a positive effect on Ukraine.”

**Will Moscow Participate?**

The priority question now is whether Russia is genuinely willing to cooperate with Trump and his team.

While the Kremlin appears eager to demonstrate a willingness to work toward a resolution, critics — including Ukraine — argue that Russia is adept at employing delay tactics to prolong the war and secure territorial gains.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin reiterated Russia’s stance — strongly disputed by Kyiv and its Western allies — blaming Ukraine’s intransigence for preventing an end to the war launched by Russia in February 2022.

“Certainly, we welcome such intentions, we welcome the confirmation of the political will to assist the search for peaceful solutions in every possible way,” Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said in comments reported by Interfax.

CNBC has reached out to the Kremlin for further comment on expectations for renewed talks with the U.S. and is awaiting a response.

**Calling Putin’s Bluff**

Russia’s ability to wage war in Ukraine with relative impunity may be coming to an end, with Trump showing growing frustration toward Putin — a stark contrast from the rapport displayed during their August summit in Alaska.

Trump, who recently described Russia as a “paper tiger,” has repeatedly threatened to impose additional sanctions on Moscow but has held off so far, much to the disappointment of Kyiv and Western partners.

The ongoing talks about supplying Tomahawk missiles could represent a turning point for Russia, according to Peter Dickinson, editor of the Atlantic Council’s *Ukraine Alert* publication.

Dickinson explained on Tuesday that the impact will depend on whether Trump is willing to call Putin’s bluff by committing to supply Tomahawks, regardless of whether he ultimately follows through.

“Trump must now decide whether he will call Putin’s bluff and arm Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. There are mounting indications that he may be inclined to do so,” Dickinson said.

“Trump now has an opportunity to convince his Russian counterpart that he is not as easily intimidated as other Western leaders and is more than ready to increase pressure on Moscow until Putin agrees to pursue peace.”

“Many of Trump’s detractors will no doubt scoff at the idea of the U.S. president adopting such an uncompromising stance toward Putin, but few objective observers would question that this approach is the only way to end the war,” he added.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/17/trump-will-call-time-on-the-ukraine-war-now-and-russia-knows-it.html