U.S. President-elect Donald Trump Advises Putin Not to Escalate Ukraine War
Initial Reports of Call Spark Denial from Kremlin
West Palm Beach: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and advised him not to escalate the Ukraine war, a source familiar with the conversation said, but the Kremlin denied the two had spoken.
Background on Trump’s Criticism of Ukraine Funding
The source told Reuters on Sunday that Trump, who has criticized the scale of U.S. military and financial support for Kyiv and said he will end the war quickly, had spoken to Putin in recent days. The Washington Post first reported the call had taken place, citing unidentified sources, and said Trump had told Putin that he should not escalate the Ukraine war.
Kremlin Denies Call Took Place
But, in an unusual move, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday no such call had taken place. "This is completely untrue. This is pure fiction, it’s just false information," he told reporters. "There was no conversation." "This is the most obvious example of the quality of the information that is being published now, sometimes even in fairly reputable publications," he said.
Trump’s Communications Director Refuses to Comment
Asked about the purported Trump-Putin call, Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said: "We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders."
Biden to Meet with Trump on Inauguration Day
Republican Trump will take office on Jan. 20 after winning the Nov. 5 presidential election. Biden has invited Trump to the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House said.
U.S. National Security Adviser Outlines Biden’s Message
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday Biden’s top message would be his commitment to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, and he will also talk to Trump about what’s happening in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. "President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe," Sullivan told CBS News’ "Face the Nation" show.
Ukraine Funding to be a Key Issue
Washington has provided tens of billions of dollars worth of U.S. military and economic aid to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in February 2022, funding that Trump has repeatedly criticized and rallied against with other Republican lawmakers.
Trump’s Plan to End War Quickly
Trump said last year that if he had been in the White House at the time, Putin would not have invaded Ukraine. He told Reuters Ukraine may have to cede territory to reach a peace agreement, something Kiev rejects and Biden has never suggested.
Senator Bill Hagerty Criticizes U.S. Funding
According to the Government Accountability Office, Congress appropriated over $174 billion to Ukraine under Biden. The pace of the aid is almost sure to drop under Trump with Republicans set to take control of the U.S. Senate with a 52-seat majority.
Conclusion
The future of U.S. support for Ukraine remains uncertain under the new administration. With Trump’s criticism of the funding and his plan to end the war quickly, the fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Did Trump really speak with Putin about Ukraine?
A: The Kremlin denied the call took place, but a source familiar with the conversation confirmed it.
Q: What did Trump tell Putin about the Ukraine war?
A: Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war, according to the source.
Q: Will Trump continue to support Ukraine?
A: It is unclear what Trump’s plan is for Ukraine funding under his administration.
Q: What is the current situation with Ukraine funding?
A: The U.S. has provided tens of billions of dollars in military and economic aid to Ukraine since the invasion. The pace of the aid is expected to drop under the new administration.