US President-elect Donald Trump reportedly spoke to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, urging him not to escalate the conflict in Ukraine, according to The Washington Post. Trump made the call from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Thursday, just days after his unexpected victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris.
Steven Cheung, Trump's communications director, declined to confirm the conversation, stating that 'we do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.' The Post, citing sources familiar with the call, reported that Trump reminded Putin of the significant US military presence in Europe and expressed interest in further discussions to resolve the Ukraine war.
Trump also had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, agreeing to collaborate towards restoring peace in Europe. Trump's election is expected to significantly impact the ongoing Ukraine conflict, as he advocates for a swift end to the fighting and questions the substantial US support for Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Trump on Wednesday, with Elon Musk also participating in the call. The outgoing Biden administration has pledged to provide as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump's inauguration on January 20.
Biden's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, emphasized the White House's goal to strengthen Ukraine's position on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, including utilizing the remaining $6 billion in funding for Ukraine.
The Russian government has responded cautiously but positively to Trump's return, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noting that 'the signals are positive... At least he's talking about peace, and not about confrontation.' Trump has repeatedly promised to swiftly end the Ukraine war during his campaign, though specifics remain unclear.
Trump and his allies have criticized US funding for Ukraine, suggesting it supports a corrupt network of defense companies and foreign policy hawks. Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., shared a video on Instagram implying that Ukraine might lose US support soon.
A quick resolution in Ukraine is anticipated to involve Kyiv ceding some lost territories to Russian invaders. A former Trump adviser, Bryan Lanza, suggested that Ukraine must abandon any hope of regaining Crimea, occupied by Russia in 2014.
Despite facing manpower shortages and uncertainty over US support, Kyiv remains resolute in not giving up territory. European allies and weapon suppliers like Britain and France are wary of Trump's potential unilateral actions.
Zelensky believes that ceding land or meeting Kremlin demands would only embolden Putin and provoke further aggression, a view shared by many European allies. The Post reported that Trump 'briefly raised the issue of land' in his call with Putin, without providing further details.
In recent months, both sides have taken actions seen as attempts to gain leverage before potential negotiations. This weekend saw the largest drone attacks so far, with Russia launching 145 drones at Ukraine and claiming to have downed 34 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow.
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