Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine war in rare phone call

Nov 11, 2024 – President-elect Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 7 to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to sources close to Trump, the call focused on the need to prevent further escalation in Ukraine, with Trump expressing a desire for swift peace talks to end the conflict. The conversation took place just one day after Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, signaling his intent to engage with both sides.

Trump has consistently called for a quick resolution to the war. He has previously suggested that Ukraine might need to make territorial concessions to reach a peace deal with Russia.

Putin, who initially responded cautiously to Trump’s election victory, expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue. The Russian leader praised Trump for surviving an assassination attempt in July and extended a warm, informal congratulation on his success.

The Ukrainian government was informed about the call and did not raise any objections. Officials from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine have not publicly commented on the details of the conversation.

Trump’s position on Ukraine has been a key topic in his campaign, with the former president claiming he would be able to quickly end the conflict. However, he has provided few specifics on how he would achieve this. His comments align with those of his ally, Bryan Lanza, who recently stated that a Trump administration would prioritize peace in Ukraine rather than focusing on regaining lost territories.

This phone call between Trump and Putin comes amid rising tensions in Ukraine. Zelensky reported that Russia launched over 140 drones during the night, marking the largest nighttime airstrike since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. In response, Ukraine also launched a series of drone strikes toward Moscow, temporarily shutting down airports.