President-elect Donald Trump recently advised Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid escalating the war in Ukraine. This conversation occurred as President Joe Biden prepares to encourage Trump to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine after taking office.
Recent Talks with World Leaders
A source revealed that Trump and Putin spoke by phone in recent days. Trump also had a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday. Trump has consistently criticized U.S. military and financial aid to Ukraine, vowing to end the war quickly, but has not explained how he would achieve this.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry stated it was not informed in advance about the Trump-Putin conversation. Consequently, the ministry refrained from commenting on the discussion.
“We do not comment on private conversations between President Trump and other world leaders,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. The Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump, who won the November 5 election against Vice President Kamala Harris, is set to assume office on January 20. President Biden has invited Trump to the White House on Wednesday for a meeting, according to a White House announcement.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden’s main message to Trump will be his commitment to a peaceful transfer of power. Sullivan also noted that Biden intends to discuss key international issues, including Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
“President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to Congress and the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine,” Sullivan told CBS News’ Face the Nation. “If we abandon Ukraine, it will lead to more instability in Europe.”
These comments came as Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow, striking the city with at least 34 drones. When asked if Biden would seek additional funding for Ukraine, Sullivan deferred to the president.
“I’m not here to propose specific legislation,” Sullivan stated. “But President Biden will argue that continued U.S. support for Ukraine is necessary, even after his term ends.”
U.S. Support for Ukraine Faces Scrutiny
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has provided tens of billions of dollars in military and economic aid to Ukraine. Trump has criticized this support, asserting that Putin would not have invaded if Trump had been president. Trump has also proposed that Ukraine might need to make territorial concessions in a peace deal. However, this position has been rejected by Ukraine and President Biden.
Ukrainian President Zelensky stated he was unaware of Trump’s specific plan to end the war quickly. Zelensky emphasized that such a plan would likely require Ukraine to make concessions, which he strongly opposes.
Under Biden’s administration, Congress has approved over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine, according to the Government Accountability Office. However, with Republicans set to take control of the U.S. Senate after the midterm elections, U.S. aid to Ukraine may slow if Trump takes office.
The outcome of the U.S. House of Representatives remains uncertain. Republicans have secured 213 seats, just five short of the 218 needed for a majority. If Republicans gain control of both chambers, Trump’s policies would face less resistance in Congress.
Republican Criticism of Ukraine Aid
Senator Bill Hagerty, a Republican ally of Trump and a potential candidate for Secretary of State, criticized U.S. spending on Ukraine during a recent CBS interview.
“The American people want our sovereignty protected here at home before we use our resources to protect the sovereignty of another nation,” Hagerty stated.
As the war in Ukraine continues, some officials believe it may be entering its final phase. Moscow’s forces have made significant advances, raising speculation about potential peace talks. However, negotiations have not occurred since the early months of the conflict.
Currently, Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory and insists the war will not end until its annexations are recognized. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to demand the return of all its occupied territories, a stance supported by its Western allies.