In a recent development, US President-elect Donald Trump reportedly spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, advising him against escalating the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to sources familiar with the conversation, Trump has also communicated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, though his approach to ending the conflict remains vague. Trump has been critical of the extensive US military and financial aid provided to Ukraine under President Joe Biden, promising a swift resolution to the war without offering specific details on how.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry has stated that it was not informed in advance of the Trump-Putin call and therefore could not comment on the matter. Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, declined to provide further details, reiterating the private nature of the call.
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Meanwhile, President Biden has invited Trump to the White House to discuss the peaceful transfer of power and key international issues, including the war in Ukraine. Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, emphasized that Biden would argue for continued support for Ukraine, highlighting the risks of abandoning Kyiv at this crucial juncture. Sullivan also noted the potential for Biden to request additional resources for Ukraine before the end of his term, though specifics remain unclear.
Trump’s victory in the November 2024 election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, sets the stage for significant shifts in US foreign policy. The incoming administration is expected to take a more cautious stance on further aid to Ukraine, particularly as Republicans are poised to control the Senate with a majority, which could ease the passage of Trump’s legislative agenda.
As the war enters a potentially decisive phase, with Moscow’s forces making advances, peace talks may become a more prominent aspect of any resolution. However, fundamental disagreements remain. Russia demands international recognition of its claimed annexations of Ukrainian territories, while Ukraine, supported by its Western allies, insists on reclaiming all of its land.
The US has so far allocated over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine under Biden, a figure likely to decrease under a Trump administration. Trump has previously suggested that Ukraine may need to cede territory to secure peace, a proposal strongly opposed by Kyiv. The future of US involvement in the conflict will depend largely on the evolving political landscape and the direction taken by the incoming administration.
