What's happened
President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine war, urging him not to escalate the conflict. Trump expressed interest in resolving the war and also spoke with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Concerns arise over Trump's potential negotiation strategies with Russia.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Trump urged Putin not to escalate the war and reminded him of the U.S. military presence in Europe. Trump's spokesperson emphasized that world leaders are eager to engage with him, viewing him as a stabilizing force. Conversely, The Guardian highlighted concerns from former officials about Trump's potential willingness to negotiate terms that could favor Russia, raising alarms about the implications for Ukraine's territorial integrity. The Ukrainian foreign ministry disputed claims that they were informed about the call, indicating a lack of consensus on the matter.
How we got here
Trump's election victory has reignited discussions about U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Trump has previously criticized U.S. involvement in Ukraine and promised to end the war if re-elected.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.