Trump and Putin Hold Talks Amid Biden’s Push to Keep U.S. Support for Ukraine



WEST PALM BEACH, Florida/WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, advising him against escalating the conflict in Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden plans to encourage Trump to maintain U.S. support for Kyiv.

The source indicated that Trump’s conversation with Putin occurred in recent days, following a separate call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday. Trump has voiced criticism over the scale of U.S. military and financial aid to Ukraine, pledging a swift end to the war without detailing specific plans.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said it had not been notified in advance about the Trump-Putin call and was therefore unable to formally respond. “We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders,” stated Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, in response to questions about the call, initially reported by The Washington Post. The Russian embassy in Washington declined to comment.

Republican Trump will assume office on Jan. 20, following his election win over Vice President Kamala Harris on Nov. 5. The White House confirmed Biden has invited Trump to visit the Oval Office on Wednesday. According to U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Biden plans to convey his commitment to a peaceful transfer of power and will also brief Trump on developments in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

“President Biden has 70 days to make the case to Congress and to the incoming administration that withdrawing from Ukraine will only lead to greater instability in Europe,” Sullivan said on CBS News’ Face the Nation. Sullivan’s remarks came as Ukraine launched a major drone strike on Moscow over the weekend, reportedly involving at least 34 drones.

When asked whether Biden would seek Congressional approval for additional Ukraine funding, Sullivan avoided specifics. “President Biden will argue for continued resources for Ukraine, even beyond his term,” he noted.

Funding for Ukraine

Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Washington has delivered tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Ukraine, a level of support that Trump and some Republican lawmakers have frequently criticized. Trump has asserted that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine had he been in office, and he suggested that Ukraine might need to make territorial concessions to achieve peace—a position Kyiv opposes and Biden has not endorsed.

Last Thursday, Zelenskiy stated he was unaware of any details regarding Trump’s approach to ending the war quickly, adding that any rapid resolution would likely require significant concessions from Ukraine.

According to the Government Accountability Office, Congress has allocated more than $174 billion in aid to Ukraine under Biden. This funding may slow under Trump, as Republicans are projected to control the Senate with a 52-seat majority. Control of the House remains undecided, but Republicans are close to securing the 218 seats required for a majority. If Republicans take both chambers, Trump’s policy initiatives will likely have smoother passage through Congress.

Senator Bill Hagerty, a Trump ally and potential pick for Secretary of State, criticized U.S. funding for Ukraine, telling CBS, “The American people want to see sovereignty protected here at home before spending funds on another country’s sovereignty.”

The two-and-a-half-year conflict in Ukraine is approaching what some officials believe could be its final phase, with Russian forces advancing at a pace not seen since the early days of the war. Any renewed efforts toward ending the conflict may involve peace talks, which have not occurred since the early months of the war.

Currently, Russian forces control roughly 20% of Ukraine, with Russia demanding recognition of its annexed territories as a precondition for ending the war. Conversely, Ukraine, with the backing of Western allies, insists on reclaiming all of its territory.

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Author: Rafael Campos

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