According to the Washington Post, US President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Thursday and urged him to prevent further escalation in the continuing Ukraine crisis. The chat is said to have occurred at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, just after he defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the presidential election.
When Agence France-Presse contacted Trump’s team, they declined to comment on the call. However, according to individuals who requested anonymity, Trump stressed the US military presence in Europe and expressed a willingness in continuing discussions with Putin to end the war quickly.
Trump’s election has raised questions about US policy on Ukraine, as he has previously suggested a desire to end the conflict quickly and has expressed skepticism about ongoing multi-billion-dollar aid packages to Kyiv. During the campaign, he criticized the funding for Ukraine and suggested it supported a “pro-war” defense industry agenda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke with Trump last week, with Elon Musk reportedly joining the call. Zelensky described the conversation as “excellent” and noted their shared commitment to ongoing dialogue and cooperation.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s administration is moving to provide maximum support to Ukraine before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed plans to bolster Ukraine’s military position using the remaining $6 billion of allocated funding, aiming to strengthen Kyiv’s stance in any future negotiations.
The Kremlin’s response to Trump’s outreach has been cautiously positive, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noting that Trump’s peace-focused approach was a welcome shift from confrontation. However, Trump’s call for an end to the war has sparked concern among Kyiv’s European allies, who worry about any potential concessions, such as ceding territory to Russia.
Zelensky remains firmly opposed to territorial concessions, arguing they could embolden Moscow. Both Russia and Ukraine have increased military actions recently, with Ukraine making territorial gains and Russia launching significant drone attacks over the weekend.
