President-elect Trump reportedly warned Putin against escalating the conflict, discussing plans for resolution following his election victory

President-elect Donald Trump reportedly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin not to escalate the ongoing war in Ukraine during a phone call the day after his victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The conversation, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, marked one of Trump’s first official interactions with world leaders as the incoming president. Sources familiar with the call told The Washington Post that Trump reminded Putin of the significant U.S. military presence in Europe and advised him against further aggression.

This call came in the midst of Trump’s efforts to establish connections with global leaders, including a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump’s transition team has not commented on the specifics of the call with Putin, but a spokesperson for the president-elect emphasized that the conversation reflected Trump’s commitment to promoting global peace and stability.

Throughout his campaign, Trump frequently emphasized his unique relationship with Putin, a stance that set him apart from many of his political rivals. Trump has praised Putin in the past, often touting the notion that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he had been in office instead of Joe Biden. His campaign rhetoric suggested that his approach would bring an end to the war, drawing significant attention to his stance on foreign policy.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a pivotal moment in global geopolitics, and the U.S. has since been a key ally to Ukraine, providing military aid to assist in its defense against Russian aggression. However, some Republicans have voiced concerns about continued U.S. involvement, arguing that the nation should avoid further entanglements in the conflict.

Trump, in his bid to resolve the war, has promised to broker peace if re-elected. During a previous interview with Fox News, he proposed that he would pressure Ukraine to reach an agreement, stating that he would approach President Zelensky with a directive: “No more, you gotta make a deal.” His comments have sparked debate, with some critics fearing that his desire to strike a deal with Russia could involve territorial concessions, potentially at the expense of Ukrainian sovereignty.

As Trump prepares to take office, questions remain about the specifics of his plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Concerns from within his own party and from former administration officials underscore the complexities of negotiating peace with Putin, whose actions have drawn international condemnation.

Despite these uncertainties, Trump’s early interactions with Putin signal that his administration’s approach to Russia may remain focused on diplomacy, even as the broader geopolitical landscape continues to evolve.