President-elect Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the Washington Post reports. It is said that Trump advised the Russian leader not to escalate the conflict in Ukraine and that the conversation refers to “peace in Europe”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine denied that the news about this conversation reached Kyiv.
Trump should “advise the Russian president not to escalate the war in Ukraine and remind him of Washington's significant military presence in Europe,” according to one person cited in the conversation by the newspaper.
The source of the newspaper added that the leaders talked about achieving peace in Europe, and Trump showed interest in another conversation about ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine denied the news that reached Kiev about Trump's conversation with Putin. – The news reported to the Ukrainian side about the planned talks are false. Therefore, Ukraine cannot agree to this conversation and protest, said the spokesman of the ministry, Heorgii Tichy, to Reuters reporters.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a “great conversation” with Trump. “We agreed to maintain a close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and steadfast leadership of the United States is essential for a just world and peace,” he said.
What will Trump do about the war in Ukraine?
Already on Thursday, Trump announced that since his victory in the presidential election on Tuesday, he has spoken with and received congratulations from about 70 world leaders. At that time, Putin was not among this group, but the American politician clearly said that such a conversation would take place soon.
During the election campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in one day. However, according to some commentators, the new American president can force Ukraine to sign an agreement and give Russia a part of its territory.
Politico: Ukraine aid package before Trump's inauguration
On Wednesday, Politico reported, citing sources in President Joe Biden's administration, that the White House plans to deliver the last aid package to Ukraine in the amount of six billion dollars before Trump's inauguration on January 20.
It usually takes months for arms and ammunition to be shipped to Ukraine, so not everything approved as part of the new support package for Kiev may arrive before the president-elect's administration takes office in the White House, writes Politico.
Main photo: CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVIC/EPA/PAP
