Donald Trump had a conversation with Vladimir Putin on Thursday about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as reported by the Washington Post on Sunday. The report cited sources familiar with the discussion.
The president-elect warned the Russian leader against escalating the conflict and underscored the significant U.S. military presence in Europe, according to the newspaper.
Trump also expressed a willingness to continue discussions aimed at quickly resolving the Ukrainian conflict.
During his campaign, Trump claimed he could end the war “within a day” but did not provide any details on his approach.
A former U.S. official familiar with the conversation told the Washington Post that Trump likely wants to avoid starting his next term with an escalation in Ukraine, giving him an incentive to keep the situation from worsening.
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, stated, “President Trump won a historic election decisively, and global leaders recognize that America is poised to reclaim its significant role on the world stage.”
This is evident as these leaders begin to develop stronger relationships with Trump, who is both the 45th and now the 47th president, given his commitment to global peace and stability.
Media reports also noted that Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday.
Joe Biden has invited Trump to the Oval Office on Wednesday.
On Sunday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Biden’s primary message is his commitment to ensuring a peaceful transfer of power. He also plans to discuss current events in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East with Trump.
“President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to Congress and the incoming administration that the United States should not abandon Ukraine, as doing so would lead to more instability in Europe,” Sullivan told CBS.
The U.S. has provided Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, a move that Trump and some Republican lawmakers have criticized.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry disputed a Washington Post claim that Kyiv had prior knowledge of the call and had consented to it.
“Reports that the Ukrainian side was informed in advance of the alleged call are false. Therefore, Ukraine could neither endorse nor oppose the call,” said Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for the ministry, to Reuters.
On Friday, the Kremlin announced that Putin was ready to discuss Ukraine with Trump but clarified that this does not mean he is willing to alter Moscow’s demands.
On June 14, Putin set out his terms for ending the conflict: Ukraine must abandon its NATO aspirations and withdraw its forces from four regions that Russia claims.
