An incoming adviser to Donald Trump has indicated that a phone call between the president-elect and Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to take place "in the coming days and weeks," as discussed in an interview with ABC News.
Florida Representative Mike Waltz, who is set to serve as Trump's national security adviser, shared details about Trump's plans to speak with Putin regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. Specifically, the call will focus on efforts to end the conflict and "stabilize things on the battlefield" by encouraging Kyiv to reduce the draft age.
Why It Matters
The potential phone call between Trump and Putin is a pivotal moment, as it could mark the beginning of peace negotiations. Depending on how the discussions unfold, this could lead to a swift resolution of the war in Ukraine. Furthermore, this initial call would signal the start of a new working relationship between the two leaders, setting the stage for Trump’s second term.
What To Know
Waltz explained that preparations for the call are underway, although Trump’s team has yet to finalize a specific framework for the conversation or decide whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be involved. The national security adviser expressed confidence that the call would take place in the "coming days and weeks."
Waltz described the war as a "World War I style meat grinder of people and resources with World War III consequences." He emphasized that, before any peace talks could begin, Trump aims to establish a rapport and open a dialogue with Russia, believing that such relationships are essential for successful negotiations. Waltz also noted that Trump’s team is advocating for Ukraine to lower its draft age from 26 to 18 to address manpower shortages and help stabilize the front lines.
The Biden administration also recently urged Ukraine to reduce the draft age to bolster its military. An unnamed senior Biden official revealed that Kyiv estimated it needed an additional 160,000 troops to fight Moscow, though the U.S. believed this figure to be an underestimate.
Trump has indicated that a meeting with Putin is being planned after his inauguration on January 20 but has not provided a specific date. The Kremlin, however, has denied these reports, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that no formal requests have been made, though he noted that Putin would be open to such a meeting.
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine and Russia, is reportedly making plans to facilitate peace talks between the two nations shortly after the inauguration. He recently expressed hopes of ending the war within 100 days.
During his interview, Waltz said that Trump’s team is eager for a "ceasefire any minute, any day," as this would enable them to enter into a formal negotiation process.
What People Are Saying
The hacker group Anonymous took to X (formerly Twitter), commenting: "Putin and Trump meeting to speak about Ukraine without the involvement of Ukraine or other allies is not a negotiation for peace, it’s a negotiation for a division of spoils."
Jürgen Nauditt, a pro-Ukraine user on X, added: "Switzerland says it is ready to organize a meeting between Trump and Putin. A Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesperson reminded that after Ukraine's Peace Summit, Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. were regularly informed of their 'readiness to support any diplomatic efforts to establish peace.'"
The spokesperson also noted that the arrest warrant for Putin, issued by the International Criminal Court, would not prevent him from attending peace talks in Switzerland.
What Happens Next
The initial call between Trump and Putin could play a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of peace negotiations, with the outcome of their conversation influencing how talks with Ukraine proceed and the nature of their evolving relationship.
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