Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine as Scholz emphasizes ties with US

Donald Trump has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him not to escalate the war in Ukraine. This call took place after Trump's election victory, and he has also communicated with other European leaders, including Ukraine's President Zelenskyy. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with the U.S. following Trump's election. Scholz expressed readiness to cooperate with Trump, highlighting Germany's increased defense spending in line with NATO guidelines. Scholz also addressed criticism from Elon Musk, dismissing it as irrelevant. He stated that he focuses on political matters rather than comments from tech billionaires. Scholz is preparing for a confidence vote in the Bundestag before the end of the year.