Report: Trump speaks with Putin, cautions against escalating conflict in Ukraine

The Washington Post reported Sunday that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to avoid further escalation in Ukraine. Trump made the call from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last Thursday, just days after his unexpected election victory over Democratic opponent Kamala Harris.

Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, declined to confirm the conversation, stating that the team does not comment on private discussions between Trump and other world leaders. According to the report, individuals familiar with the call, who requested anonymity, said Trump reminded Putin of the substantial U.S. military presence in Europe and expressed interest in further talks aimed at a swift resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Trump’s election is expected to influence the ongoing three-year war, as he has prioritized a quick end to hostilities and questioned the U.S.’s extensive financial support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke with Trump on Wednesday, with billionaire Elon Musk joining the conversation. Meanwhile, the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden confirmed it would send as much aid to Ukraine as possible before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan noted that the White House intends to use the remaining $6 billion of Ukraine funding to strengthen Kyiv’s position both on the battlefield and in future negotiations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reacted cautiously but positively to Trump’s return, commenting, “The signals are positive… At least he’s talking about peace, not confrontation.” Throughout his campaign, Trump emphasized his intention to quickly end the war but has yet to share detailed plans.

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a social media clip on Saturday showing Zelensky beside the president-elect, captioned, “POV: You’re 38 days from losing your allowance,” implying a possible reduction in U.S. support. Trump’s former adviser Bryan Lanza told the BBC that Ukraine might have to relinquish claims over territories like Crimea to achieve peace, though Trump’s transition team clarified that Lanza was not speaking for the president-elect.

While Ukraine remains firmly opposed to territorial concessions, European allies and weapons suppliers, such as Britain and France, are reportedly concerned about any unilateral actions Trump might take. Zelensky has argued that ceding land to Russia could embolden Putin, a stance supported by many European partners. Trump reportedly “briefly raised the issue of land” during his call with Putin, though no further details were provided.

Recently, both Ukraine and Russia have taken strategic actions potentially aimed at gaining leverage in future negotiations. Over the weekend, both sides launched extensive drone attacks, with Russia firing 145 drones at Ukraine and downing 34 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow.