Trump Urges Putin to Avoid Escalating Ukraine War

President-elect Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, advising him not to escalate the Ukraine conflict, according to a source familiar with the call.

Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, continuing his stance against large-scale U.S. support for Kyiv and promising to end the war quickly, though without giving specifics.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said it wasn’t informed of Trump’s call with Putin. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, declined to comment on private calls between Trump and other world leaders.

President Joe Biden plans to meet with Trump on Wednesday at the Oval Office. Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden will stress the importance of a smooth power transition and urge Trump to keep supporting Ukraine, warning that pulling back could destabilize Europe.

“Biden will make the case that leaving Ukraine now means more instability in Europe,” Sullivan said on CBS’s Face the Nation. Biden is also expected to push for continued funding for Ukraine, which has received substantial U.S. aid since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

Ukraine funding

While the U.S. has provided billions in aid to Ukraine, Trump has criticized the support, suggesting Ukraine may need to make territorial concessions for peace—an idea Ukraine firmly opposes.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said he doesn’t know the details of Trump’s plan to end the war but noted any quick solution could require significant sacrifices from Kyiv.

With Republicans expected to control the Senate, U.S. aid to Ukraine may decrease under Trump, especially if Republicans secure both chambers of Congress, making it easier to push Trump’s policies forward.

Senator Bill Hagerty, a close Trump ally and potential pick for secretary of state, criticized U.S. funding for Ukraine, saying, “The American people want their own borders protected before spending resources on another country.”

As the Ukraine war nears its third year, officials believe efforts to end the conflict may soon ramp up. However, peace talks will face challenges, as Russia insists on keeping the territories it claims, while Ukraine, backed by its allies, demands all its land back.