Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told his US counterpart Donald Trump in a phone call that potential long-range Tomahawk cruise missile deliveries to Ukraine will damage ties between Moscow and Washington.
According to Anadolu Agency, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov informed journalists during a briefing that Putin reiterated his belief that Tomahawk missiles will not alter the battlefield situation but will harm the relations between the two nations, impacting prospects for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. Ushakov described the nearly two-and-a-half-hour conversation as very substantive, yet also extremely frank and confidential, with a particular focus on the Ukraine war. Putin provided Trump with a detailed assessment of the current situation.
Ushakov mentioned that Moscow has 'complete strategic initiative' along the front line in Ukraine and highlighted that Trump repeatedly stressed the importance of achieving swift peace in the war-torn country. Ushakov added that Trump emphasized the vast prospects for economic cooperation between the United States and Russia if the conflict in Ukraine is resolved.
The discussion also included the possibility of holding another face-to-face meeting between the two presidents, with Budapest as a potential venue. Putin and Trump last met in August during a summit in Alaska, but efforts to end the ongoing Ukraine war have stalled, prompting Trump to collaborate with NATO allies to increase pressure on Moscow, including urging nations to cease purchasing Russian oil.
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he and Putin will meet in Hungary to discuss ending the over three-and-a-half-year war after high-level delegations meet next week. The call between Putin and Trump comes as Trump is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday at the White House, where air defense and long-range capabilities are expected to be the main topics.
Earlier this month, Trump mentioned he was close to deciding on sending Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, as requested by the Ukrainian president in September.