US President-elect Donald Trump has instructed aides to arrange a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly after his inauguration to arrange a meeting to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
CNN reports this, citing its own sources.
Trump's team is preparing for a call with Putin
According to CNN, Trump plans to discuss the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Putin in the coming months. The main topic of their conversation will be ending the war in Ukraine.
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Representatives of Trump's national security team have reportedly been preparing for the call for weeks. However, it is unclear whether an exact date for the conversation has been set.
The article states that after Trump's inauguration, US and Russian representatives will be able to begin serious work on organizing a personal meeting.
Although Trump said that they are already preparing for a telephone conversation, the Kremlin noted that they will begin official preparations only after he takes office.
CNN journalists drew attention to the fact that the talks between Trump and Putin reflect a sharp departure from the policy of Joe Biden, who has not spoken with the Russian president for almost three years.
According to sources, Trump believes that direct dialogue with the Russian dictator could help find a solution to end the wars.
It is not yet clear whether the new US president will adhere to Biden's strategy regarding military support for Ukraine. It is only known that Trump is against Ukraine joining NATO, but does not specify what security guarantees he is ready to provide to Kyiv.
CNN reached out to Trump's team for comment, but has not yet received a response.
Donald Trump's inauguration will take place on Monday, January 20. The US president-elect announced that he and his vice president, J.D. Vance, will take the oath of office in the US Capitol rotunda, as cold weather is expected that day.
