ASIATODAY.ID, MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone call on Thursday, October 17, 2025, amid growing tensions between Moscow and Washington over a possible delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
The conversation marked the first direct contact between the two leaders since their Anchorage, Alaska meeting in mid-August. Trump had earlier announced on his Truth Social platform that he was engaged in a “lengthy and productive” call with Putin.
A Frank and Substantive Conversation
Putin’s top aide, Yury Ushakov, described the nearly two-and-a-half-hour discussion as “very substantive and at the same time extremely frank.” He added that Putin congratulated Trump on his “successful efforts” to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to Ushakov, Putin emphasized that Moscow remains committed to seeking a peaceful political and diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
At the same time, he noted that Russian forces currently hold the strategic initiative across all sections of the front line and are “responding appropriately” to Ukrainian strikes on civilian areas.
Tomahawk Missiles Could Undermine Peace Prospects
A key point of contention in the call was the potential US decision to send Tomahawk cruise missiles—with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) capable of reaching Moscow—to Kyiv.
Putin warned that such a move would not alter the battlefield situation but would severely damage prospects for peace and further strain US-Russia relations. The Kremlin also reiterated that any delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine would prompt Moscow to take “necessary retaliatory measures.”
Next Putin–Trump Summit Likely to Take Place in Budapest
Ushakov revealed that both sides agreed to immediately begin preparations for the next Putin–Trump face-to-face summit, with Budapest, Hungary, emerging as the most likely venue.
Initial coordination will involve a phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that he had also spoken with Trump and that summit preparations are already underway.
“The Spirit of Anchorage” Still Alive
Although the rare in-person meeting in Alaska last August did not yield major breakthroughs, both Moscow and Washington have described it as an important step toward restoring dialogue and pursuing peace in Ukraine.
The Kremlin underscored that the diplomatic process launched in Anchorage “is not over” and that “the spirit of Anchorage remains alive,” serving as the foundation for ongoing communication between the two global powers. (RT)
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