Live: Zelensky to push for Tomahawk missiles at Trump meeting ahead of new Putin summit

17/10/2025 – 13:27

EU supports Trump-Putin meeting if it ‘moves forward’ peace process

The EU has welcomed the proposed meeting between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart if this can help bring peace in Ukraine, a spokesperson told a briefing on Friday.

“Any meeting that moves forward the process of achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine is welcome,” commission spokesman Olof Gill told reporters.

17/10/2025 – 13:08

Putin discusses upcoming Trump summit with Hungary’s Orban

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call on Friday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to discuss the upcoming summit with President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said.

The Kremlin said Putin briefed Orban on his conversation with Trump, and Orban said Hungary was ready to provide the necessary conditions for organising the summit.

17/10/2025 – 11:08

Orban hails Hungary as ‘the only place in Europe’ for a Trump-Putin meeting

Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has celebrated his country’s status as the host of upcoming talks between President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

“Budapest is essentially the only place in Europe today where such a meeting could be held, primarily because Hungary is almost the only pro-peace country,” Orban said. “For three years, we have been the only country that has consistently, openly, loudly, and actively advocated for peace.”

Trump has suggested his second meeting this year with Putin would take place in Budapest, the Hungarian capital.

Orbán, a close Trump ally and considered Putin’s closest partner in the European Union, suggested that his long-standing opposition to the West supplying Ukraine with military and financial aid to assist in its defense against Russia’s invasion had played a role in making Budapest the site of the talks. 

17/10/2025 – 10:14

Zelensky met officials of US firm making Tomahawk missiles before Trump meeting

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he met with officials from a US firm making the Tomahawk missiles and Patriot systems that Kyiv has been requesting to ramp up defences against Russia.

“We discussed Raytheon’s production capacity, potential avenues for our cooperation to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and long-range capabilities, and the prospects for Ukrainian-American joint production,” Zelensky said on social media. 

17/10/2025 – 10:12

Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to meet US President Donald Trump for a high-stakes meeting at the White House.