Trump to Call Putin: Ukraine’s War Future Hangs in Balance

Trump to Call Putin
US President-elect Donald Trump has announced his plan to initiate a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the days following his inauguration on January 20, 2025. This call marks the beginning of his attempt to shape a new approach to the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Trump has been vocal about his intentions to bring an end to the ongoing conflict. Just before his inauguration, he reiterated his commitment to resolving international crises, including the war in Ukraine. “I will end the war in Ukraine, stop the chaos in the Middle East, and prevent World War III – and you have no idea how close we are to it,” Trump said at a rally in Washington, D.C.
The phone call with Putin is seen as a significant first step in Trump’s broader goal to negotiate peace, though experts suggest that it is unlikely the conflict will end quickly. Trump’s team hopes to work on a peace plan in the early months of his presidency, including direct talks with the Russian leader.
Trump’s aides have already begun preparations for the call, though a specific date remains unclear. CNN reports that Swiss and Serbian officials have offered to host any potential face-to-face meetings between the two leaders.
This direct interaction with Putin is a stark contrast to the approach taken by President Joe Biden, who has been cautious about such engagements, believing they would not yield meaningful results. In contrast, Trump is confident that personal talks with Putin could pave the way to a resolution.
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It remains uncertain whether Trump will continue Biden’s policy of providing Ukraine with weapons and intelligence. He has previously expressed reservations about Ukraine’s NATO membership and has not clarified his stance on funding Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. While Trump has not specified the exact terms of his approach, his comments in the past suggest that the US will not bear the full cost.
The purpose of Trump’s upcoming call with Putin, according to CNN sources, is to explore the possibility of a meeting aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. However, there are still many unanswered questions about what the leaders will discuss.
Vladyslav Faraponov, head of the Institute of American Studies in Ukraine, weighed in on what Ukraine can expect from the phone call. “We shouldn’t be afraid of this. Sooner or later, the conversation will happen anyway. The best thing Ukraine can do is to prepare Trump’s environment as much as possible and convey our main warnings,” Faraponov said.
Faraponov also noted that Trump understands why the war cannot be quickly ended. Ukraine has been working to ensure that Trump grasps the complexities of the situation. However, Faraponov cautioned that Trump may still pursue an image victory through negotiations or a ceasefire agreement on terms that may not be beneficial to Ukraine.
Drawing parallels to the recent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Faraponov observed that while Trump’s special representative Steven Witkoff participated in the negotiations, it was Biden’s administration that could claim credit for the breakthrough. This could push Trump to seek a similar “peacemaking” opportunity in Ukraine.
Faraponov speculated that the main topic of the conversation between Trump and Putin would likely be a ceasefire in Ukraine, though he acknowledged that any ceasefire agreement would be complicated and take time. “Putin may show interest, but he will not agree to a ceasefire without demanding concessions. This will likely require several rounds of negotiation,” Faraponov said.
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While Trump might push for a ceasefire, Putin may use the conversation to extract additional demands, including the lifting of sanctions, though such issues are unlikely to be addressed in the first call. Putin may instead aim to lure Trump into a personal meeting, which could be portrayed as a diplomatic breakthrough for the new US administration.
Faraponov also warned that Putin might attempt to deceive Trump by presenting himself as open to peace talks but later presenting conditions that Trump would find unacceptable. The Russian leader’s goal is to maintain his media and political influence, and direct talks with the new US president would provide a significant boost in that regard.
Despite the potential for negotiation, the outcome of the first call between Trump and Putin may not lead to immediate progress. Faraponov suggested that if Putin insists on unrealistic demands, Trump may quickly conclude that negotiations are not productive. This could lead to a shift in Trump’s approach, possibly resulting in increased US support for Ukraine, depending on how events unfold.
Faraponov concluded that while the situation remains uncertain, there is a realistic possibility that Ukraine may not engage in negotiations directly with Russia and that US support for Ukraine could continue or even increase. Trump’s stance in the coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the trajectory of the conflict.
Sources for this report include Donald Trump’s statement, CNN, and commentary from Vladyslav Faraponov, head of the Institute of American Studies and analyst at Internews Ukraine.
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