During the phone conversation, which reportedly took place from Trump’s resort in Florida, he also reminded the Russian strongman of Washington’s significant military presence in Europe, The Washington Post (WP) reported, citing sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The two also talked about the goal of achieving peace in Europe, with Trump indicating his desire for a follow-up discussion on “the resolution of Ukraine’s war soon,” WP said.
Officials in Ukraine have been informed about the call, and did not raise any objections to it, the newspaper added.
Ukrainian authorities have long anticipated that Trump might
engage with Putin to seek a diplomatic solution to the two-and-a-half-year-long conflict.
Trump, who returns to the White House as the 47th President of the United States following a decisive victory over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris during the November 5 election, has maintained a stance on Ukraine that has often unsettled America’s European allies.
Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that he could end the nearly three-year war “in one day” by urging Ukraine and Russia to cut a deal.
However, many in the EU worry that such a deal could involve forcing Kyiv to cede territory to Moscow.
Trump’s aides, including his Vice-presidential pick JD Vance, have echoed similar sentiments, with Vance notably declining to characterize Putin as an ‘enemy’.
The call, which had not been revealed until now, comes amid uncertainty over how Trump will reshape U.S. diplomatic relations once he enters the Oval Office.
