President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to avoid escalating the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.
The conversation reportedly took place Thursday from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, just days after his election win over Democratic rival Kamala Harris.
The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources familiar with the call, reported that Trump emphasized America’s substantial military presence in Europe and expressed a desire to engage in further discussions to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict.
Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, did not confirm the call’s content, saying in a written statement to AFP, “we do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.”
On Sunday, Trump also spoke by phone with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to Scholz’s spokesperson, the two leaders “agreed to work together towards a return to peace in Europe.”
Trump’s election is expected to impact the Ukraine crisis significantly, as he has publicly called for a quick resolution to the conflict and has raised questions about the U.S.’s multi-billion-dollar support for Kyiv.
During his campaign, Trump vowed to end the war quickly, though he offered few details about his plans.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Trump on Wednesday in a call that reportedly included Trump’s close supporter, billionaire Elon Musk.
The call marked a potentially pivotal moment for Ukraine, as Kyiv’s government assesses what changes may come with the shift in U.S. leadership.
Meanwhile, the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden has confirmed its commitment to providing as much support as possible to Ukraine before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated on Sunday that the White House aims “to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the battlefield so that it is ultimately in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table.” Sullivan noted that the Biden administration intends to use the remaining $6 billion of authorized funding for Ukraine.
Russia responded cautiously but with optimism to Trump’s return, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying on Sunday, “The signals are positive… At least he’s talking about peace, and not about confrontation.”
Trump and his allies have expressed skepticism over the extensive U.S. funding for Ukraine, suggesting it supports what Trump called a “pro-war nexus” of defense companies and foreign policy advocates.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a clip on Instagram on Saturday showing Zelensky standing beside the president-elect, with the caption, “POV: You’re 38 days from losing your allowance.”
Trump’s desire for a swift resolution to the conflict may include territorial concessions, a prospect that worries Ukraine and its European allies. Any deal to end the conflict would likely require Kyiv to consider giving up some territory in Ukraine’s south and east that Russian forces have seized.
In a comment to the BBC on Saturday, former Trump advisor Bryan Lanza suggested that Ukraine should abandon aspirations to reclaim Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.
While Ukraine faces manpower constraints and potential uncertainty about future U.S. support, Zelensky has steadfastly opposed surrendering any territory, a stance echoed by key European allies like Britain and France, who are concerned about unilateral moves by the incoming U.S. administration. Zelensky warned that conceding land would only encourage Putin to pursue further aggression.
According to the Post, Trump “briefly raised the issue of land” during his call with Putin, though details were scarce. Both sides in the conflict appear to be maneuvering for a stronger position ahead of potential negotiations. Ukraine has recently reclaimed some areas in Russian-occupied territories, while Russian forces have made gains in other parts of Ukraine.
This weekend, drone attacks intensified on both sides, with Russia launching 145 drones at Ukraine overnight, according to Zelensky, and Russia reporting the downing of 34 Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow on Sunday.
