Mon Nov 11 03:38:26 UTC 2024: ## Trump Urges Putin to End Ukraine War in First Phone Call

**Palm Beach, Florida** – In his first phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin since winning the US election, President-elect Donald Trump urged Putin to de-escalate the war in Ukraine. The call, which took place on Thursday from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, comes just days after Trump’s decisive victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Sources familiar with the conversation told the Washington Post that Trump reminded Putin of the significant US military presence in Europe and expressed interest in further discussions aimed at ending the conflict. Trump emphasized the need for a resolution and signaled a willingness to engage in future talks with Moscow on the issue.

The phone call follows a Wednesday conversation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which also included tech mogul Elon Musk. Zelensky described the call as “excellent,” expressing optimism about continued dialogue and cooperation with the incoming administration.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has been ongoing for over two and a half years, remains a significant point of contention in international relations. Recent months have seen both sides make moves seen as attempts to gain leverage ahead of potential negotiations, with Ukraine seizing territory and Russia making advances.

This weekend, the war saw the largest drone attacks yet from both sides. Russia launched 145 drones at Ukraine overnight, according to Zelensky, while Russia claimed to have downed 34 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow.

Trump’s election is expected to have a significant impact on the ongoing conflict, as he has advocated for a swift end to the fighting and expressed doubts about Washington’s multi-billion dollar support for Kyiv.

The outgoing Democratic administration of President Joe Biden has confirmed that it will continue to provide aid to Ukraine until Trump’s inauguration on January 20. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reaffirmed Biden’s commitment to Ukraine, stressing the need for continued US support until his final day in office. “We aim to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the battlefield,” Sullivan said in an interview with ‘Face the Nation’.

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