Trump dials Putin; urges him not to escalate Ukraine war

Donald Trump's first call to Putin comes as Joe Biden attempts to sway the President-elect into supporting Kyiv

Trump Putin Summit Confusion US President Elect Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin during one of their early meetings | AP

President-elect Donald Trump has had his first telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a report said. Though neither Washington nor Kyiv has confirmed this, Trump is said to have urged Putin to scale down Ukraine war.

Both leaders discussed the Ukraine situation and the goal of peace on the European continent, Washington Post quoted unnamed sources as saying. Trump is also said to have expressed an interest in follow-up conversations to discuss the resolution of Ukraine’s war soon.

He is also said to have briefly touched on the issue of a potential deal wherein Russia would be allowed to keep the land it acquired so far. Trump has vowed repeatedly to end the war once he takes office but has not divulged how.

Ukraine has confirmed that it was not aware of or informed it of the call in advance. "Reports that the Ukrainian side was informed in advance of the alleged call are false. Subsequently, Ukraine could not have endorsed or opposed the call," foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told Reuters.

However, sources familiar with the matter told the Washington Post that Ukrainian officials "have long understood that Trump would engage with Putin on a diplomatic solution for Ukraine."

Trump's communication director Steven Cheung too said he wouldn't comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.

The move comes as President Joe Biden attempts to urge Trump not to abandon Kyiv. The outgoing President will also appeal to Congress for more aid to Ukraine in the final 70 days of his term.

"President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe," Sullivan told CBC News.

Ukraine attacks Moscow

The developments come as Ukrainian drones strike Moscow. In the biggest attack on Moscow by Ukraine, as many as 34 drones struck the Russian capital, forcing flights to be diverted at three of the city's major airports and injuring at least five people.

The Russian defense ministry said its air defences destroyed another 50 drones over other regions of Western Russia on Sunday. "An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using airplane-type drones on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted," the ministry said.

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