Trump issues stern warnings to Putin during a phone call after the election victory

Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Vladimir Putin on Thursday during their first phone conversation since the Republican won the presidency, according to a report.

Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of “Washington’s extensive military presence in Europe,” according to the Washington Post.

During the election campaign, Trump said he would find a solution to end the war “within a day,” but did not explain how he would do so.

According to media reports, Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.

On Friday, the Kremlin said Putin was willing to discuss Ukraine with Trump, but that did not mean he was willing to change Moscow’s demands.

Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of “Washington’s extensive military presence in Europe,” according to the Washington Post

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address on the occasion of the Day of the Internal Affairs Officer in Moscow on November 10

On June 14, Putin set out his conditions for an end to the war: Ukraine would have to abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw all its troops from the entire territory of the four regions claimed by Russia.

Ukraine rejected that, saying it would amount to capitulation, and Zelensky has put forward a “victory plan” that includes requests for additional military support from the West.

Trump’s call with Putin comes a day after Republican strategist Bryan Lanza said the new president had a “vision of peace” for Ukraine but no “winning” prospects for the country at war with Russia.

“If Zelensky says that we will only stop these fighting, there will only be peace when Crimea is returned. We have news for President Zelensky: Crimea is gone,” Lanza told the BBC.

“What we are going to say to Ukraine is: do you know what you see? What do you consider a realistic vision of peace?

Putin congratulated the ‘courageous’ candidate by telephone earlier on November 7

“It is not a vision for winning, but it is a vision for peace. And let’s start an honest conversation,’

“And if that’s your priority in getting Crimea back and making American soldiers fight to get Crimea back, then you’re on your own.”

Sunday’s call between the two leaders is not the first the two have had since Trump won the 2024 election.

Putin congratulated the “courageous” candidate by telephone on November 7.

The Russian president said at the time that he was “ready” for talks with Trump, who he said behaved “like a man” during the assassination attempt earlier this year.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate him,” Putin said at the Valdai forum in Sochi.

The Russian president was impressed by the way Trump handled himself, saying: “He turned out to be a courageous person.”

“People show who they are in extraordinary circumstances,” Putin said.

‘This is where a man reveals himself. And he showed himself, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageous. Like a man.’