Trump urges Putin to avoid escalation in Ukraine during call
US president-elect Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to avoid escalating the war in Ukraine. This call occurred shortly after Trump's election victory over Kamala Harris. Trump also expressed interest in further discussions about resolving the conflict. The Kremlin denied the call took place and stated that there are no signs the West is ready for talks. A Ukrainian official confirmed they were not informed of any communication between Trump and Putin. Meanwhile, Trump also spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about peace in Europe. Trump's election may impact US support for Ukraine, as he has questioned the funding provided to Kyiv. The Kremlin responded positively to Trump's focus on peace, contrasting with previous confrontational rhetoric.