The Ukrainian delegation has been in Washington all week, and Zelenski will join tomorrow, Friday. After their historic clash in the spring, relations between them have improved significantly, while the White House seemed to be realizing that it has no leverage over the Kremlin and that Putin does not have much intention of signing a peace deal. Hence, the talk in the U.S. capital is whether Trump will authorize the delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Kiev. "Zelenski wants the missiles, and we have many. If this war is not resolved, we could send Tomahawks. It's an incredible weapon. And Russia doesn't need it. If the war is not resolved, we could do it. Maybe not. But we could," the president said a couple of days ago,
Elmundo America reports.
"At the end of the call, we agreed to a meeting of our high-level advisors next week. The initial U.S. meetings will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with other individuals to be designated soon. The meeting place is yet to be determined. President Putin and I will meet at an agreed location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can end this 'ignominious' war between Russia and Ukraine. President Zelenski and I will meet tomorrow in the Oval Office, where we will discuss my conversation with President Putin and many other topics. I believe today's phone call has taken a big step forward," Trump concluded.
Budapest has been in the White House's speculations for two months. Trump talks, for now, about a possible meeting with Putin, but in August, there was consideration for a three-party meeting, including Zelenski as well. It all depends on the meeting tomorrow in the Oval Office, but Hungary is an unthinkable or nearly impossible option for the Ukrainians. Viktor Orban is Putin's main ally in the EU, the one who has posed the most obstacles to sanctions against Moscow and aid to Kiev in recent years. At the same time, he is one of Trump's key allies in Europe.
In August, it was reported that the U.S. Secret Service was already on the ground analyzing the security measures in the Hungarian capital, but at that time, the White House neither confirmed nor denied it. If before their meeting with Putin in Alaska, European leaders conspired to pressure Trump, the same will happen now, if the meeting between Marco Rubio and the Russian team goes well and clears the way.
