Putin’s Two-Hour Call Seen as Strategic Move to Draw Trump Closer to Moscow

A lengthy phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited debate in Washington and Europe over whether the Kremlin is tightening its diplomatic grip on the White House.

The latest call — reportedly lasting two and a half hours — was described by Russian officials as “positive and productive” and took place just days before Trump’s planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington. It marks the eighth direct conversation between the two leaders in eight months.

According to Kremlin sources, Putin urged Trump to reconsider supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, warning that such a move would “damage U.S.-Russia relations” without changing the course of the war. The missiles, capable of striking Moscow and St. Petersburg, have been under consideration as part of a potential new U.S. weapons package for Kyiv.

Putin reportedly praised Trump’s “peacemaker” efforts in the Middle East, while dangling the prospect of renewed economic cooperation between the two nations. The leaders also agreed to hold a second in-person summit in Budapest, Hungary — a move that many analysts view as a calculated attempt by Moscow to shape U.S. diplomatic priorities ahead of any decision on Ukraine’s armament.

Trump’s Balancing Act

The Budapest summit will follow the ill-fated Alaska meeting earlier this year, where Trump offered Putin a warm reception but came away with no concrete progress toward ending the Ukraine war.

Now, buoyed by his recent success in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of Israeli hostages, Trump has hinted that his Middle East breakthrough could serve as a model for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Yet, as analysts point out, the Kremlin has not shown any willingness to compromise. Despite heavy losses on the battlefield and escalating Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian energy facilities, Moscow continues to insist on full control of annexed territories and a weakened, demilitarized Ukraine — conditions Kyiv has flatly rejected.

Kremlin’s Calculated Charm

Diplomatic observers say Putin’s timing was deliberate. The call came amid reports that Trump is “weighing the risks” of escalating U.S. military support for Kyiv. Ukrainian officials believe Putin’s outreach was triggered by discussions over Tomahawk missiles — a sign that Moscow is deeply wary of Washington crossing another military threshold.

“The Kremlin has learned that personal engagement and the illusion of progress can be as effective as real concessions,” one European diplomat told reporters.

While no major policy shift has been announced, experts warn that Putin’s charm offensive may once again test Trump’s appetite for hard-line measures against Moscow — and his eagerness to claim a headline-grabbing peace deal.