Trump advises Putin not to escalate Ukraine war in first phone call since victory

Donald Trump had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday during which he advised him not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of “Washington’s sizeable military presence in Europe”.

The Washington Post reports that the phone call, the first between the two men since Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, also saw them discuss the goal of peace in Europe and Trump suggesting follow-up conversations to discuss “the resolution of Ukraine’s war soon.”

On Friday, the Kremlin had said that Putin was ready to resume contact with Trump but that it did not mean he would alter Moscow’s demands.

Trump has also spoken to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a phone call on Wednesday.

While campaigning, Trump had said he would find a solution to the war “within a day”, without explaining how he planned to do so.

During the election campaign, Trump said he would find a solution to end the war “within a day,” but did not explain how he would do so.