Overview

• The Russia-initiated conversation lasted about two and a half hours and produced agreement to start preparations for a leaders' meeting.
• Senior advisers will convene next week, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lead the U.S. side and Russian counterparts to be confirmed.
• Hungary signaled it is ready to host, and Budapest was floated by both sides as a possible venue for a Trump–Putin summit.
• Putin warned that any U.S. Tomahawk transfer to Ukraine would damage bilateral ties and peace prospects, while asserting Russian forces hold the strategic initiative.
• Trump stressed urgency in pursuing peace and cited major post-conflict economic opportunities, as Zelenskyy arrived in Washington for Oct. 17 talks on air defenses and possible long-range systems.