Trump advises Putin against escalating Ukraine conflict in recent call

President-elect Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, advising him not to escalate the war in Ukraine. Trump has criticized U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine and promised to end the conflict quickly, though he did not provide details. Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not informed about the call with Putin. The Ukrainian foreign ministry did not comment on the conversation. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that President Joe Biden will discuss Ukraine's situation with Trump during their upcoming meeting. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, the U.S. has provided over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine. With Republicans gaining control of the Senate, the pace of aid may decrease under Trump, who has previously suggested that Ukraine might need to make territorial concessions for peace.