Trump Advises Putin Not to Escalate War in Ukraine During Recent Phone Call

US President-elect Donald Trump recently engaged in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he advised Putin not to escalate the ongoing war in Ukraine. This conversation, reported by The Washington Post, took place on Thursday and highlighted Trump’s stance on the conflict.

During the call, Trump reminded Putin of ‘Washington‘s sizeable military presence in Europe,’ emphasizing the potential consequences of further escalation. This advice comes after Trump’s campaign promises to find a solution to the war ‘within a day’ of taking office, although he has not detailed how he plans to achieve this.

Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, as part of his outreach to key leaders involved in the conflict. The Kremlin has indicated that Putin is open to discussing Ukraine with Trump, but this does not imply a willingness to alter Moscow’s demands. Putin’s terms for ending the war include Ukraine dropping its NATO ambitions and withdrawing troops from four regions claimed by Russia, conditions that Ukraine has rejected.

The upcoming meeting between Trump and outgoing US President Joe Biden on Wednesday is expected to focus heavily on foreign policy issues, including the situation in Ukraine. Biden will use this meeting to urge Trump not to abandon Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. The Biden administration has committed to providing full authorized aid to Ukraine before the transition of power on January 20.

The Kremlin has noted ‘positive signals’ from Trump regarding his desire to strike a deal to end the war, despite Trump’s unpredictability compared to Biden. However, Trump’s approach to foreign policy, particularly his criticism of the significant aid provided to Ukraine, is being closely watched by international observers.