Trump speaks with world leaders without State Department oversight due to distrust

Donald Trump has spoken with world leaders, including Vladimir Putin, without the usual oversight from the U.S. State Department. This approach stems from Trump's distrust of federal officials following leaked transcripts from his previous presidency. His team has not yet signed a required agreement with the General Services Administration. World leaders have been contacting Trump directly to congratulate him and discuss relationships. During a call with Putin, Trump urged him not to escalate the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke with Trump, who reassured officials about U.S. support. Despite Trump's election, fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues. Reports indicate that Russian and North Korean troops are preparing for an assault on Ukrainian positions in the coming days.