President-elect Donald Trump reportedly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid escalating the conflict in Ukraine during a phone call from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Thursday, just days after his decisive election win over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. According to the *Washington Post*, Trump emphasized the strength of the U.S. military presence in Europe and conveyed his interest in further discussions to resolve the ongoing war.
The call followed Trump’s conversation on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, joined by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Zelensky described the discussion as “excellent,” expressing optimism for continued cooperation with the incoming administration.
The conflict, now over two and a half years old, remains a central issue in global politics. Recent months have seen both Ukraine and Russia making strategic advances, potentially to secure leverage for future negotiations. This weekend saw both sides launch major drone attacks: Russia reportedly deployed 145 drones over Ukraine overnight, while Moscow reported downing 34 Ukrainian drones on Sunday.
Trump’s victory signals potential shifts in U.S. policy on the conflict, with the president-elect advocating for a quick resolution and questioning Washington’s substantial aid to Kyiv. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has pledged to send as much support to Ukraine as possible before Trump’s January 20 inauguration. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan affirmed Biden’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s battlefield position until the final day of his term, emphasizing continued U.S. support in an interview on *Face the Nation* on Sunday.