Trump Urges Putin to Avoid Escalation in Ukraine War Following Election Victory
US President-elect Donald Trump has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him not to escalate the ongoing war in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported on Sunday. The call, made from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Thursday, came just days after his surprising victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris in the presidential election.
Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, did not confirm the conversation, telling reporters, “We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.”
According to The Washington Post, sources familiar with the call, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Trump reminded Putin of America’s significant military presence in Europe. Trump also expressed interest in further discussions on “resolving Ukraine’s war soon.”
Trump’s election is expected to significantly impact the nearly three-year conflict in Ukraine, as he has advocated for a swift end to the fighting and has expressed skepticism about continuing Washington’s multi-billion-dollar support for Kyiv.
On Sunday, Trump also held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with both leaders agreeing to work together toward achieving peace in Europe, according to a statement from Scholz’s spokesman.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Trump on Wednesday, with tech billionaire Elon Musk—an influential backer of Trump—also joining the call.
The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden, which has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, has pledged to send as much aid as possible before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. On Sunday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the White House is focused on putting Ukraine “in the strongest possible position on the battlefield,” with the aim of giving the country leverage in future negotiations.
