Trump-Zelensky LIVE: Donald to make major Ukraine decision after 'productive' Putin call

17 mins ago16:53 Ciaran McGrath

Also posting on social media yesterday, likely in response to Mr Trump's call with the Kremlin, Volodymyr Zelensky sent a pointed reminder to the White House about what was at stake.

He explained: "Russia is trying to leave this part of Europe an island of peril and torment for human life. It’s crucial not to let that happen.

"Russia will be forced to stop the war once it is no longer able to continue it.

"And Russia’s true readiness for peace lies not in words – Putin has never been short of those – but in actually ceasing the strikes and killings, and that’s precisely where he has a problem."

25 mins ago16:45 Ciaran McGrath

A trip to Budapest for Vladimir Putin would require him to fly through the airspace of several NATO member countries, a potential complicating factor in organising the meeting.

However, while Putin’s assets have been frozen by the EU, he is not subject to a travel ban in Europe. Russian planes are banned from entering the bloc, but member countries are permitted to allow certain flights in.

Hungary is also a signatory to the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, which in 2023 issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes. As a signatory, Mr Orban’s government would be required to arrest Putin if he set foot on Hungarian soil.

However, Mr Orban said in April that his country would begin the process of withdrawing from the court after he gave red carpet treatment in Budapest to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also faced an ICC warrant on suspicion of crimes against humanity, which he denies.

27 mins ago16:43 Ciaran McGrath

Speaking to state radio on Friday, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close Trump ally and considered Putin's closest partner in the European Union, claimed his long-standing opposition to the West supplying Ukraine with military and financial aid for its defence against Russia's invasion had been crucial in making Budapest the site of the talks.

He said: “Budapest is essentially the only place in Europe today where such a meeting could be held, primarily because Hungary is almost the only pro-peace country.

"For three years, we have been the only country that has consistently, openly, loudly and actively advocated for peace.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Image: Getty)

29 mins ago16:41 Ciaran McGrath

Mr Trump's post on Truth Social on Thursday continued: "President Zelensky and I will be meeting tomorrow, in the Oval Office, where we will discuss my conversation with President Putin, and much more.

"I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation."

45 mins ago16:25 Ciaran McGrath

Donald Trump is poised to host Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for talks at the White House - the day after the US President had what he called a "productive" phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

In recent days, Mr Trump had shown openness to selling Ukraine long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, even as Putin warned against it - although indications are that he is not willing to grant Mr Zelensky his wish, at least for the moment.

Posting on Truth Social on Thursday, Mr Trump said: "At the conclusion of the call, we agreed that there will be a meeting of our High Level Advisors, next week.

"The United States’ initial meetings will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, together with various other people, to be designated. A meeting location is to be determined.

"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."