President-elect Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, marking the first contact between the two leaders since Trump’s election victory.
This discussion reportedly took place while Trump was at his Florida resort, with sources revealing that Trump advised Putin against escalating the conflict in Ukraine and emphasized the substantial U.S. military presence in Europe.
But the Kremlin has denied reports that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, spoke to the US president-elect, Donald Trump, calling the media reports “pure fiction”.
The Washington Post first reported that a call had taken place, citing unidentified sources, and said Trump had told Putin he should not escalate the Ukraine war. Reuters also reported on a call.
Call for Peace in Europe
During the conversation, if true, Trump and Putin touched upon the possibility of achieving peace on the European continent. Trump expressed interest in follow-up discussions to explore a swift resolution to the war in Ukraine. Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to end the conflict, though he offered limited specifics on how he would accomplish this. Sources indicate that Trump has hinted at support for a deal allowing Russia to retain some captured territories, an issue he briefly raised with Putin during the call.
Viktor Orban Predicts U.S. Exit from Ukraine Conflict
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently speculated that the U.S. would withdraw from Ukraine’s conflict under Trump’s leadership. In an interview, Orban voiced his expectation that Americans would quit the Ukraine war, reflecting a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy under a Trump administration.
Trump Engages with World Leaders
Since his election, Trump has reportedly spoken to around 70 world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a call in which Tesla CEO Elon Musk also participated. Ukrainian officials were informed of Trump’s call with Putin and reportedly did not object, having long anticipated Trump’s diplomatic engagement with Russia to address the ongoing war.
Diplomatic Approach Without State Department Support
In a notable deviation from standard procedure, Trump’s initial interactions with world leaders, including Putin, are not facilitated by the State Department or official U.S. government interpreters. Trump’s transition team has not signed an agreement with the General Services Administration, with sources suggesting Trump’s team prefers to manage these communications independently.
Kremlin Shifts Tone Following Trump Victory
Initially, Moscow reacted cautiously to Trump’s election win, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that Putin had no plans to contact the president-elect. However, on Thursday, Putin extended a public congratulation to Trump, commending his resilience following a recent assassination attempt and expressing readiness for future talks.
Ukraine Prepares Amid Growing Military Tensions
News of the Trump-Putin call surfaced as Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack targeting Moscow and other Russian regions, marking the most extensive Ukrainian assault on the Russian capital since the invasion began. Simultaneously, Ukraine braces to defend land gains in Russia’s Kursk region, while U.S. intelligence reports indicate the presence of North Korean troops in support of Russian forces in the area.
Trump’s Position on Ukraine
While Trump has yet to outline a specific strategy for ending the Ukraine conflict, he has suggested that an early deal might have spared Ukraine from further destruction. He emphasized this view in a speech, arguing that even a “bad deal” would have been preferable to the current situation, which has left Ukraine struggling to maintain resources and territorial control.
