Overview
- The US State Department and Moscow confirmed an October 20 phone call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that both sides framed as preparatory and constructive.
- CNN and other outlets report the in-person Rubio–Lavrov meeting expected this week has been postponed, casting doubt on the timing of a proposed Trump–Putin summit in Budapest.
- Zelensky said his meeting with President Trump was positive despite no commitment on Tomahawk missiles and said Ukraine is preparing a contract to buy 25 Patriot air-defense systems.
- Trump denies pressing Kyiv to cede Donbas, though multiple reports say he pushed territorial concessions as Putin sought full control of Donetsk; Trump now publicly favors freezing lines at the current front while the Kremlin says its stance is unchanged.
- Hungary has welcomed hosting responsibilities and Bulgaria offered an air corridor for Putin’s flight, while European partners advance separate support for Kyiv including a proposed €140 billion loan backed by frozen Russian assets and a London gathering of the Coalition of the Willing.