President Donald Trump spoke by phone with President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to discuss the war in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The US president-elect advised the Russian president against escalating the war in Ukraine and reminded him of “Washington’s significant military presence in Europe,” the newspaper reported.
He added that President Trump expressed interest in follow-up dialogue on “early resolution of the war in Ukraine.”
During his campaign, Trump said he would find a solution to end the war “within a day,” but he did not explain how.
A former U.S. official who spoke to The Washington Post with knowledge of the meeting said Trump likely did not want to begin his second term as president with the escalation of the Ukraine war. He is motivated to prevent the deterioration of the situation.”
“President Trump decisively won a historic election, and leaders around the world know that America will once again return to prominence on the world stage,” President Trump’s press secretary Stephen Chan said in a statement to the newspaper. ” That is why our leaders have begun the process of building a stronger relationship with our 45th and 47th presidents, as they represent peace and stability in the world. ”
Trump also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday, according to media reports.
Mr. Biden invited President Trump to the Oval Office on Wednesday, and on Sunday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Mr. Biden’s biggest message was Mr. Biden’s determination to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. He said that. He also plans to speak with President Trump about what’s happening in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
“President Biden has the next 70 days to remind Congress and the next administration that the United States should not withdraw from Ukraine and that withdrawing from Ukraine would mean further destabilization in Europe,” Sullivan told CBS. There will be an opportunity to make a case.” .
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. government has provided tens of billions of dollars worth of military and economic aid to Ukraine, a move that President Trump has repeatedly criticized and pushed back against with other Republicans. We have provided funds to the fund.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry disputed the Washington Post article’s claims that Kyiv was informed about the call and did not object to the conversation taking place. “Reports that the Ukrainian side was informed in advance about the alleged call are false. Ukraine could not subsequently support or oppose this call,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tikich said. told Reuters.
On Friday, the Kremlin said Putin was willing to discuss the Ukraine issue with Trump, but that did not mean he was ready to change Russia’s demands.
On June 14, President Putin laid out conditions for ending the war. Ukraine would have to abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw all its troops from all territory in four regions claimed by Russia.
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Ukraine refused, calling it tantamount to surrender, and Zelensky said he had presented a “victory plan” that included requests for additional military support from Western countries.
Also on Sunday, President Trump spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “The Chancellor emphasized the German government’s willingness to continue the decades of successful cooperation between the two governments. The two countries also agreed to work together towards restoring peace in Europe,” a German government spokesperson said. said.
President Trump said in a phone call last week with South Korean President Yun Seok-Yeol that the United States is interested in cooperating with South Korea in the shipbuilding industry, particularly in the naval shipbuilding field, as well as “promoting true peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.” He said there is. said the South Korean leader.
The phone call between Trump and Putin comes a day after Trump’s senior political adviser Brian Lanza told the BBC that Ukraine should focus on achieving peace rather than a “vision for victory.” It was done.
“If President Zelensky says we will stop only this fighting, then only peace will come. If Crimea is returned, we have news for President Zelensky: Crimea is gone,” Lanza told the BBC. spoke.
In response to the remarks, Trump’s press secretary said that Lanza is a “campaign contractor” and “does not work for or represent President Trump.”
