Overview
- President Trump publicly urged Russia and Ukraine to “stop where they are” and make a deal after briefing Volodymyr Zelensky on his extended phone call with Vladimir Putin.
- Zelensky left Washington without securing U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles as Trump labeled them a dangerous escalation and said U.S. stocks must be conserved.
- Plans are being prepared for a Trump–Putin summit in Budapest in the coming weeks after their call, with adviser-level engagements expected before the leaders meet.
- Zelensky said he is ready to join talks in Budapest and pressed Trump to increase pressure on Putin, asserting the Kremlin fears Ukraine receiving Tomahawks.
- Accounts diverged on the White House meeting’s tone, with some reports describing a heated exchange, as the IAEA separately announced a local ceasefire to repair power lines near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.