President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid further escalation of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The conversation, which took place on Thursday, was conducted from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, only days after his unexpected election victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, according to a report from the Washington Post.
Citing unnamed sources familiar with the details of the call, the Washington Post reported that Trump reminded Putin of the significant U.S. military presence across Europe. He expressed a desire to continue dialogue with Russia to work towards a resolution of the Ukraine conflict, signaling his intent for diplomatic engagement.
Trump's victory is being viewed as a potential turning point in the nearly three-year-old conflict, with his repeated calls for a swift resolution. Throughout his campaign, Trump expressed skepticism about the billions of dollars in U.S. aid that has been provided to Ukraine, and he has indicated his preference for ending the fighting as quickly as possible. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also held discussions with Trump earlier in the week, describing their conversation as "excellent" and emphasizing a commitment to ongoing cooperation.
Meanwhile, the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan highlighted the administration's intention to use the remaining $6 billion of available funding to strengthen Ukraine's position on the battlefield and in future negotiations before Trump's inauguration on January 20.
The Kremlin has reacted cautiously but positively to Trump's outreach, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commenting that the signals from Trump are encouraging, especially given his focus on peace rather than confrontation. During his election campaign, Trump frequently promised to bring an end to the conflict, though he did not provide specific details on how he planned to achieve this goal.
Trump and his allies have been critical of the substantial U.S. financial support allocated to Ukraine, arguing that the funds are used to perpetuate a pro-war stance among defense contractors and policymakers. In a notable social media post, Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., shared a video featuring President Zelensky alongside his father, with the caption: "POV: You're 38 days from losing your allowance."
Reports indicate that any swift resolution to the conflict would likely require Ukraine to concede some of the territories occupied by Russian forces in the south and east. Former Trump adviser Bryan Lanza suggested that Ukraine may have to relinquish its claims to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, in order to prioritize peace. However, the Trump transition team has clarified that Lanza's views do not represent the official stance of the president-elect.
Ukraine has been steadfast in its refusal to cede any territory, with President Zelensky and European allies asserting that such concessions would only embolden the Kremlin and lead to further aggression. Zelensky has consistently stated that making territorial concessions to Russia would be counterproductive, a view that is widely shared by Ukraine's European supporters.
Trump reportedly touched upon the topic of territorial concessions during his conversation with Putin, though specific details of their discussion remain unclear. Recent actions by both Ukraine and Russia suggest efforts to gain leverage ahead of potential peace negotiations. Ukraine has made gains in reclaiming Russian-held areas, while Russian forces have also advanced in certain parts of Ukraine.
Over the weekend, both sides engaged in significant drone warfare, with Russia reportedly launching 145 drones targeting Ukraine, while Ukraine targeted Moscow with 34 drones. This continued escalation underscores the intensity of the conflict, even as diplomatic discussions attempt to find a path to peace.
