Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a report by the Washington Post on Sunday.
The US president-elect reportedly advised Putin to avoid escalating the conflict and reminded him of “Washington’s sizeable military presence in Europe.” Trump also expressed an interest in further discussions aimed at resolving the war, with the Washington Post noting that he pushed for a resolution “soon.”
During his campaign, Trump claimed he could end the war “within a day,” though he has yet to detail how he would achieve such a swift resolution.
A former US official familiar with the call, speaking to the Washington Post, suggested that Trump may want to avoid beginning his second term with a worsening Ukraine crisis, describing it as an incentive for him to discourage escalation.
In a statement to the outlet, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said: “President Trump won a historic election decisively and leaders from around the world know America will return to prominence on the world stage. That is why leaders have begun the process of developing stronger relationships with the 45th and 47th president because he represents global peace and stability.”
Trump reportedly spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has invited Trump to the Oval Office on Wednesday. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that Biden’s top priorities for the meeting will include ensuring a peaceful transfer of power and discussing global issues, including developments in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Washington has allocated tens of billions of dollars in military and economic aid to Ukraine. Trump has consistently criticized this funding, aligning with other Republican lawmakers in opposition to the extensive financial support.
source: UNB
