Trump-Putin recap: Nightmare for Zelensky just one day ahead of White House meeting

Vladimir Putin used his call to Donald Trump to brag that Russia had the upper hand in the war against Ukraine.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters: "In particular, it was noted that during the special military operation, the Russian Armed Forces have complete control of the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact."

He claimed, without providing evidence: "In these conditions, the Kiev regime is resorting to terrorist methods, striking civilian targets and energy facilities. We are forced to respond accordingly."

Russia has continued to bombard Ukrainian targets in recent days.

Hungary remains legally obligated to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin and surrender him to the International Criminal Court if he enters the country, despite the government's explicit refusal to comply.

The requirement stems from an ICC arrest warrant issued against Putin in March 2023 for alleged war crimes involving the deportation of Ukrainian children, binding Hungary as a Rome Statute signatory until its withdrawal takes effect on June 2, 2026.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's administration announced the withdrawal in April 2025 and has repeatedly stated it would not detain Putin, a position that echoes its failure to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit earlier this year despite a similar ICC warrant.

The ICC has already sought sanctions against Hungary for non-cooperation, highlighting tensions between international law and national politics in the European Union member state.

Hungary's Prime Minister Victor Orban has taken to X to discuss plans for US President Donald Trump to meet Vladimir Putin in his country.

Mr Orban posted: "I just got off the phone with President @realDonaldTrump.

"Preparations for the USA-Russia peace summit are underway. Hungary is the island of PEACE!"

Mr Orban is generallym regarded as the European leader who is most closely aligned with Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on October 17, his sixth such encounter since Trump took office, as Kyiv presses for stronger military aid against Russia's invasion.

The agenda will centre on long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could enable strikes up to 2,500 kilometres into Russian territory, following Mr Trump's recent hints at approving deliveries to pressure Moscow into peace talks.

Mr Zelensky described recent phone calls with Mr Trump on October 11 and 12 as "productive," focusing on air defences and offensive capabilities to target Russian energy infrastructure amid intensifying aerial assaults on Ukraine's grid.

Mr Trump has previously indicated he would discuss the Tomahawks with Putin before deciding on supplies. While experts like Volodymyr Dubovyk express cautious optimism about the rapport built since a rocky February meeting, Ukrainian lawmaker Volodymyr Ariev warns of Trump's "mercurial" shifts, noting his past U-turns on sanctions and support, reported the Kyiv Independent.

Brokering Ukraine's peace remains a key Trump goal, though analysts say true pressure on Putin hinges on European buy-in and firm US commitments beyond rhetoric.

Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev took a swipe at the European Union after hailing what he called the Russian President's "positive" call with Donald Trump.

Posting on X, Dmitriev accused "UK and EU warmongers" of trying "very, very hard to derail peace prospects".

He added: "But dialogue and peace and the US-Russia cooperation will prevail."

Ukraine has prepared a "wishlist" of targets to strike if Donald Trump follows through with his threat against Russia to provide Ukraine’s embattled forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles, an expert has said.

Author and Russia expert Keir Giles also said that despite warnings of escalation from Russia, they have very little they can do in response if Trump does deliver the deadly weapon systems.

The US President warned Russia on Sunday that he may send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Moscow doesn't end its war there soon - possibly using that threat to increase the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to compromise.

Mr Giles told Express US: “It’s true that the Tomahawk missiles will allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia and tackle a wider range of targets than compared to their homegrown weapons. The kind of targets Ukraine would like to strike, behind the front lines, are harder, beyond the capability of the improvised systems Ukraine have developed so far.”

Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov claimed that President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump against supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The apparent warning comes as Trump weighs the potential sale of the long-range weapons, which could enable Kyiv to strike deep into Russian territory, crossing a key Kremlin red line and escalating tensions further.

Despite the caution, Ushakov confirmed ongoing backchannel contacts between Moscow and Washington, describing agreements from prior summits as a "guiding star" for resolution, though European hostility remains a major obstacle.

The disclosure precedes Mr Trump's Friday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where the missile transfer is expected to feature prominently in discussions on pressuring Russia toward negotiations. Mr Zelensky has frequently appealed to the US to supply his military with Tomahawks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed Vladimir Putin spoke with Donald Trump earlier.

Peskov has not yet announced details of the call but Russian Presidential Foreign Policy Aide Yuri Ushakov said preparations would begin immediately.

Mr Zelensky continued: "This autumn, the Russians use every single day to strike at our energy infrastructure. Putin has turned a deaf ear to everything the world says, so the only language that can still get through to him is the language of pressure – pressure through sanctions and pressure through long-range capabilities.

"Strong decisions are possible, decisions that can help. And this depends on the United States, on Europe, on all partners whose strength directly determines whether the war will be ended.

"Now there is an important momentum toward peace in the Middle East. In Europe, this is also possible. That is exactly what I will be discussing today and tomorrow in Washington."

Hours earlier, posting on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, due to meet Mr Trump tomorrow, said: "Last night brought strikes against our people, our energy sector, and our civilian infrastructure. Russia launched more than 300 attack drones and 37 missiles, a significant number of them ballistic, against Ukraine.

"Infrastructure in the Vinnytsia, Sumy, and Poltava regions came under attack. In the Chernihiv region, the city of Nizhyn was struck – the post office was damaged, and one person was injured. In the Kharkiv region, the enemy targeted critical infrastructure and a State Emergency Service department.

"There are wounded. Recovery efforts are underway everywhere. Emergency services are working. And there is confirmation that the Russians are using double terror – attacking with “shaheds” carrying cluster munitions and launching repeated strikes to injure firefighters and energy workers who are restoring damaged facilities."

Mr Trump continued: "He was very appreciative, and said that this will continue. We also spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over. 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. 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."

Mr Trump, posting on Truth Social, said: "I have just concluded my telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, and it was a very productive one.

"President Putin congratulated me and the United States on the Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East, something that, he said, has been dreamed of for centuries.

"I actually believe that the Success in the Middle East will help in our negotiation in attaining an end to the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin thanked the First Lady, Melania, for her involvement with children."

President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, though no date has been set.

The statement followed a lengthy phone call between the two leaders, in which Trump raised Ukraine's push for long-range Tomahawk missiles to strike deeper into Russian territory.

The disclosure comes ahead of Mr Trump's Friday White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has urged the US to approve the missile sales to compel Moscow toward peace talks.

Mr Trump expressed confidence in brokering a deal, citing recent Middle East progress as a catalyst for renewed diplomatic momentum.

Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine as he warned the Russian economy is “collapsing”. The US President said Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries are hitting the Russian economy where it hurts, with fuel shortages causing prices at the pump to soar.

In a scathing assessment, Mr Trump said Moscow "should have won that war in one week" and heaped pressure on the Russian president to end the “horrible” conflict.

He said Mr Putin "has got to really settle this war”, adding: "You know, they have long lines waiting for gasoline in Russia right now… all of a sudden his economy is going to collapse and I’d like to see him do well.

"I mean, I had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin, but he just doesn’t want to end that war."

Ukrainian drones have targeted and damaged 16 Russian fuel tanks at the Morskoi Neftianoi Terminal in Russian-occupied Feodosia, Crimea, on the night of October 13

The Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the damage to the Marine Oil Terminal on October 15, noting that these were the tanks that had survived a previous attack on October 6. A fire ignited by the strike was still visible from 25 kilometres away on 14 October, according to local media reports.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces emphasised the importance of the oil terminal in Feodosia as a vital logistical link for supplying Russian troops with fuel and lubricants. LIGA News reported that the total volume of oil products that could be stored in the tanks is about 193,000 cubic metres.

In separate operations on the night of 14 October, Ukrainian forces hit a P-18 radar station in Krasnaya Polyana in occupied Crimea, a drone control point in Oleshky in occupied Kherson Oblast, and an ammunition depot near Makiivka in occupied Donetsk Oblast, as reported by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Vladimir Putin has stuck two fingers up to Donald Trump by unleashing a massive blitz of aerial attacks on Ukraine just hours after the US president again called for the killing to stop. President Putin showed no signs of stepping into line with other world leaders by giving in to Mr Trump's demands for world peace, after the American leader's recent success in Gaza.

Instead, the Kremlin dictator launched Russia's fearsome MiG-31 bombers overnight, carrying deadly Kinzhal, or Dagger, hypersonic missiles, alongside a swarm of drones to wreak havoc on Ukrainian infrastructure.

The bombardment from Putin came just hours after Mr Trump said: "And all we want from President Putin is this: Stop killing Ukraines [sic] and stop killing Russians, cause he's killing a lot of Russians. Again, it doesn't make him look good."

But this morning (Thursday) it appeared Putin does not care if he looks good, as Ukraine's President Zelensky reported more than "300 attack drones and 37 missiles" had been fired against his country.

Vladimir Putin is allegedly "panicking" over US President Donald Trump's threat to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could enable Kyiv to strike deep into Russian territory and cripple Moscow's war infrastructure.

Campaigner Yuriy Boyechko explained that the Tomahawks' 2,500km range and precision would target high-value sites like airbases and drone factories, shifting the conflict's balance by destroying Russia's "strategic sanctuary."

While current Western weapons like ATACMS are limited to 300km strikes, Tomahawks represent a major escalation, prompting Kremlin warnings of a "new stage" and nuclear risks from figures like Dmitry Medvedev, though Mr Boyechko views this as a mix of bluff and genuine fear. A

llies like the UK and Estonia back unrestricted support to pressure Russia towards negotiations, amid ongoing Ramstein talks and Russia's attrition strategy in Donbas.

The Tomahawk is a US-made, long-range, subsonic cruise missile designed for precision strikes on high-value targets, launched from ships or submarines.

Measuring around six metres in length with a wingspan of 2.6 metres, it weighs approximately 1,510 kilograms and flies at low altitudes to evade detection, using satellite navigation and terrain-matching for accuracy.

Capable of reaching targets up to 2,500 kilometres away, the missile employs a solid-fuel rocket booster to ascend before switching to a turbofan engine for sustained flight.

In the ongoing Ukraine conflict, President Donald Trump is considering supplying Tomahawks to Kyiv to enable deeper strikes into Russian territory, a move that could pressure Moscow towards negotiations.

Russia views this potential transfer as a dangerous escalation, crossing a key red line that would severely damage bilateral relations and allow Ukraine to threaten critical infrastructure far beyond the front lines, prompting warnings from the Kremlin of heightened conflict risks.

Volodymyr Zelensky will also press Donald Trump for harsher economic sanctions on Russia during their meeting, an area where the president has shown reluctance.

Mr Trump has prioritised urging allies like NATO members and India to halt Russian oil purchases, announcing Wednesday that India agreed to stop buying Moscow's crude.

Senate legislation awaits Trump's support to impose tariffs on nations buying Russian energy exports, aiming to cripple war funding.

White House officials have recently reviewed the bill in detail, suggesting increasing seriousness, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent awaits stronger European commitment before advancing.

Ahead of his talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—the fourth this year—Trump is considering Tomahawk sales, noting, "He'd like to have Tomahawks... We have a lot of Tomahawks."

Analyst Mark Montgomery from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies calls this a bold political move, though training could take years.

He recommends prioritising Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM) or ATACMS for quicker impact on Russian logistics near the front lines. Tomahawks' 995-mile range dwarfs ERAM's 285 miles and ATACMS' 186 miles, enabling far deeper strikes.

In a speech to Israel's Knesset in Jerusalem this week, Mr Trump pinpointed ending Russia's Ukraine invasion as his top priority, ahead of broader Middle East normalisation efforts.

"First we have to get Russia done," Trump told his special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been key in Putin communications.

The war, nearing its fourth year, remains Europe's largest conflict since World War II.

Mr Trump views the Gaza deal as groundwork for US-led regional peace, but insists Ukraine must be addressed immediately to build momentum.

With a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire holdings so far, Mr Trump is redirecting his efforts to resolving the Ukraine conflict through potential long-range arms to Kyiv.

Ending wars in Ukraine and Gaza was a cornerstone of Trump's 2024 re-election campaign, during which he criticised Biden's management of both.

Despite past frustrations in urging Putin for direct Zelensky talks, Mr Trump now expresses renewed optimism post-Gaza truce.

"Interestingly we made progress today, because of what's happened in the Middle East," Trump said Wednesday, linking Middle East stability to advancements on Russia.

The 20ft missiles, made by American firm Raytheon, have a much longer range than missiles currently used by Ukraine such as the British Storm Shadow, which can travel up to 200 miles.

Tomahawks fly at high speeds and at low altitudes, making them difficult to detect by ground radar. They have onboard cameras and are extremely accurate.

Experts have warned the missiles would not be a “game-changer” for Ukraine but could be used to target vital infrastructure such as oil depots, marshalling yards and drone factories deep inside Russia.

Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Mr Trump to approve sales of Tomahawk cruise missiles, arguing they would force Putin to engage seriously in peace talks.

Providing these missiles could potentially mark a significant escalation, potentially crossing Putin's stated red line and straining US-Russia relations further.

Mr Trump announced the conversation in a Truth Social post, saying: "I am speaking to President Putin now. The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

The discussion focuses on pressuring Putin toward direct negotiations to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The call precedes Mr Trump's Friday White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is seeking Tomahawk missiles for deeper strikes into Russian territory.

President Donald Trump is speaking with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Thursday as he considers Ukraine’s push for long-range missiles. Trump said in a Truth Social post late Thursday morning that he was engaged in a lengthy phone call with Putin and would provide an update on what they discussed as soon as it was over.

The call comes ahead of Trump’s meeting on Friday at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been pressing Trump to sell Kyiv Tomahawk missiles that would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian territory. Zelenskyy has argued such strikes would help compel Putin to take Trump’s calls for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war more seriously.

Trump said Sunday: “Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said on Sunday. “I think I might speak to Russia about that.”