Donald Trump calls on Putin to de-escalate Ukraine conflict

New York: US President-elect Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid further escalation of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in a recent phone call.
The call, made from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, comes just days after his decisive election win over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. During the conversation, Trump expressed interest in promoting further discussions with Moscow to reduce tensions and resolve the two-and-a-half-year-long war.
According to sources cited by The Washington Post, Trump highlighted the importance of a substantial US military presence in Europe, suggesting that he intends to bring American influence to bear on a resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
Trump, who made ending the war a key campaign promise, stressed the urgent need for peace but has not yet revealed specific strategies or proposals.
In an earlier call on Wednesday, Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with tech billionaire Elon Musk also reportedly participating in the talks. Zelenskyy described the discussion as “excellent,” saying he was encouraged by Trump’s interest in maintaining a constructive dialogue.
The Ukrainian president has expressed optimism about cooperating with the incoming administration to ensure peace and stability in the region. The conflict, which began in 2022 and has shaped global geopolitics ever since, shows few signs of resolution. Recent developments suggest that both Russia and Ukraine are positioning themselves for leverage in potential future negotiations, with Ukrainian forces gaining strategic advantage and Russian troops moving into some areas. These changes underscore the urgent need for diplomatic intervention.
This weekend Russia fired 145 drones over Ukraine overnight, Zelenskyy said, while Russia said it had shot down 34 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow on Sunday.
(IANS)