Trump Urges Putin to Avoid Escalation in Ukraine Conflict During Phone Call

In a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump cautioned against intensifying the ongoing war in Ukraine and highlighted the extensive U.S. military presence in Europe, sources reported. This conversation came after Trump’s separate call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reflecting his engagement with both sides of the conflict.

While Trump previously claimed during his campaign that he could end the war "within a day," he did not present any concrete solutions during the call with Putin. Ukraine’s foreign ministry denied any prior knowledge of the call, with spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi clarifying that Ukraine neither endorsed nor opposed the conversation.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that President Joe Biden remains committed to supporting Ukraine and plans to reinforce this stance in the upcoming transition period. “Walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe,” Sullivan warned, as Biden prepares to urge Congress and the incoming administration to maintain support.

The Kremlin confirmed Putin’s willingness to engage in discussions with Trump but emphasized that Russia’s conditions remain unchanged, including Ukraine’s abandonment of its NATO aspirations and withdrawal from contested regions—terms Ukraine has firmly rejected. Instead, President Zelenskyy is advocating a “victory plan” focused on heightened military backing from Western allies.