Donald Trump has tasked his aides with arranging a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin straight after taking office, with one goal of discussing how to end the war in Ukraine.
In a report picked up by Russian media, CNN said that Trump and his team had started working on getting a phone call organized between the leaders, which could lead to a plan to end the war within months of him entering the White House.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump transition team and the Kremlin for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump has repeatedly said he could end the war started by Putin within a day, but this time frame appears to have been adjusted to several months, and there is little to indicate any imminent end to hostilities.
Russia has battlefield momentum but has been hit hard by the latest U.S. sanctions on its energy exports, which could give Trump leverage for a deal.
What To Know
CNN said that officials from Trump's national security team had been working for several weeks on organizing a phone call between the U.S. president and his Russian counterpart, although it is unclear if a date had been set.
The news outlet said U.S. and Russian officials would work on a face-to-face meeting between the leaders once Trump enters office. Switzerland and Serbia are willing to host this, but the Kremlin is waiting until after the Republican's inauguration before formal plans can take place.
This would be different to the approach of President Joe Biden, who has not spoken directly with Putin for nearly three years.
Citing a source familiar with Trump's thinking, the incoming president believes that direct engagement with Putin is needed to end the war in the CNN article headlined, "as Trump's Ukraine deadline comes due, he prioritizes a talk with Putin."
Incoming Ukraine envoy, retired Lieutenant-General Keith Kellogg, told Fox News last week that the war will be solved. He said that Trump can use sanctions on Russia's oil industry as leverage, following the Biden administration's latest crackdown on the country's key revenue generator.
Energy analyst Tom O'Donnell told Newsweek last week that Trump could use sanctions on oil exports from its westward-facing terminals to pressure Putin to end the war.
Trump told a rally at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Sunday that he would end the war in Ukraine, as well as ending the "chaos" in the Middle East and prevent World War III.
What People Are Saying
CNN reported on Sunday: "(Trump's) view, described by a person familiar with his thinking, is that direct engagement with Putin is exactly what is needed to find a solution to end the war."
Donald Trump told a rally in Washington, D.C., on Sunday: "I will end the war in Ukraine, stop the chaos in the Middle East and prevent World War III from happening, and you have no idea how close we are."
What Happens Next
Trump's approach to the war with Ukraine is yet to be clarified, and there are questions over whether he will continue to provide the level of military support for Kyiv.
Beyond opposing Ukraine's admission to NATO, Trump also has not said what security guarantees he backs that are demanded by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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