Mr. Trump called Mr. Putin, advised not to escalate the conflict

US President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine, a source familiar with the conversation told Reuters on November 10 (local time).

The source said Mr Trump advised Mr Putin not to escalate the conflict in Ukraine and reminded the Russian leader of Washington's "significant military presence in Europe".

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Donald Trump meet in Helsinki, Finland, in 2018. (Photo: Getty Images)

During the election campaign, Mr. Trump vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict “within 24 hours,” but did not specify a plan to do so.

On November 9, the Kremlin said that Mr. Putin was ready to discuss Ukraine with Mr. Trump, but that did not mean the Russian president was ready to change Moscow's demands.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed to "positive" signals surrounding Mr. Trump, although the 47th US President-elect is said to be "more unpredictable" than President Joe Biden.

“Trump believes that it is possible to reach an agreement that will lead to peace,” Peskov told Rossiya 1. “At least he is talking about peace, not about confrontation or about wanting to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.”

In June, Mr Putin laid out the terms for ending the war: Ukraine would have to abandon its ambitions to join NATO and withdraw all its troops from all four regions claimed by Russia.

Ukraine rejected the terms, saying they were tantamount to surrender. Mr Zelensky also laid out a “victory plan” that included demands for additional military support from the West.

On November 7, Mr. Trump also had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Zelensky did not know any details about Mr Trump’s plan to end the conflict quickly, but the Ukrainian leader believes a quick end would require major concessions from Kiev.

Ukraine's foreign minister said preparations were underway to arrange a meeting between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump, but the exact timing remained unclear.

President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take office on January 20, 2025, after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election. Biden invited Trump to the Oval Office on November 13, the White House announced.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Mr Biden's most important message was to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. Mr Biden will also discuss with Mr Trump what is happening in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

"Over the next 70 days, President Biden will make a case to Congress and the new administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, emphasizing that walking away from Ukraine will cause more instability in Europe," Sullivan told CBS News .

Asked whether the Biden administration would ask Congress to pass legislation authorizing more aid to Ukraine, Sullivan said: "I'm not here to make a specific legislative proposal. President Biden will make the case that we really need to maintain resources for Ukraine after his term ends."

Congress has allocated more than $174 billion to Ukraine under President Biden, according to the Government Accountability Office. The pace of aid is almost certain to slow under Donald Trump, with Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate with a 52-seat majority.

Control of the US House of Representatives in the next Congress remains unclear as some votes are still being counted. Republicans currently hold 213 seats, needing just five more to win a majority.

If Republicans win both houses, it would mean President-elect Donald Trump would have an easier time pursuing his policies.

Hua Yu (Source: Reuters, SCMP)

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