US President-elect Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine, according to The Washington Post.
According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Trump allegedly reminded Putin of the significant US military presence in Europe. The Republican would also like to hold further talks to discuss “the resolution” of the war in the near future. The call reportedly took place from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Thursday.
However, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the phone call between Putin and Trump was a fabrication and the article published by The Washington Post was “completely untrue.”
Moreover, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also spoke with Trump on Sunday about working together on a “return of peace” to Europe, according to Scholz’s spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. During the conversation, Scholz emphasised the importance of continued support for Ukraine. The German leader offered Trump the opportunity to “continue the decades of successful co-operation between the governments of both countries.”
My principle is always, if I may say so casually: You dance with those who are in the room. And that also applies to the future president of the US. I’m never naive, but I’m also a bit unflustered.
During his first term as US president, Trump criticised Berlin for insufficient military spending, the country’s trade surplus and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. However, Scholz noted that Germany now spends 2% of its GDP on defence, in line with NATO’s goals. The chancellor also expressed hope that Trump would honour Biden’s commitment to deploy US medium-range missiles in Germany.
This is an agreement we have made with the US. It is in our mutual interest. So I want to accept it.
Trump and Ukraine
Trump criticised the scale of military and financial support for Kyiv under the administration of US President Joe Biden. He also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday shortly after confirming the election victory.
Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said that on his first day in office, Trump planned to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table. He will reportedly take office as president on 20 January, the day of his inauguration.
It includes, On Day 1, bringing Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table to end this war.
Speaking at the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Zelensky said that Ukraine intended to decide for itself when to start peace talks.
We need enough weapons, not support in negotiations.
Situation on Ukrainian front
Zelensky recalled the “peace plan,” stressing that he intended to continue working on its implementation. Meanwhile, Ukrainian media report a deplorable situation on the front line. Fierce fighting between the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and Russian troops in the Kursk region continues.
In the Pokrovsk area, Russian forces advanced along the railway north-west of Selydove, as well as along the M04 road. In the Toretsk area, the Russians took control of half of the coal plant and also made major gains in the city itself.
Ukrainian media reported that the AFU launched about 70 drones on Russian territory. The attack on the Moscow region took place against the backdrop of the Trump team’s statements about the early end of the Ukrainian conflict.
In response, the Russian military released footage and said that strategic aviation aircraft performing military manoeuvres could have launched a missile strike on Ukraine on Monday. However, military commanders cancelled the operation amid Trump’s alleged request in a phone call not to shell the country. Soon, most of the aircraft left the launch sites.
The move indicates contacts between Putin and Trump, with the Ukraine issue likely to be resolved without Zelensky’s involvement, as his actions may lead to further escalation.
However, if Zelensky again engages in provocation after agreements are reached, he might face huge risks. If the war ends under Trump’s mediation and Zelensky agrees to unfavourable concessions of Ukrainian territories, disillusioned soldiers returning from the frontline could violently protest their president.
