Trump and Putin: First phone call on Ukrainian conflict: “Call to avoid new escalations”.

Recently, US President-elect Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine. This direct contact, which took place without the mediation of the State Department, represents a significant step in the relationship between the two leaders after the US elections on November 5. The meeting saw Trump stress the need to avoid further escalation in the conflict and expressed an intention to dialogue to seek a rapid solution to the crisis, as reported by the Washington Post.

Trump and Putin's conversation

The phone call, which took place on Thursday, November 7, while Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort, was described as the first direct contact between the two leaders since Trump's election victory. During the conversation, the American president-elect "advised" Putin to avoid further military escalation in Ukraine, leveraging the "significant American military presence in Europe" as an element of deterrence. The dialogue then focused on the common goal of bringing peace to the European continent, with Trump expressing interest in future meetings aimed at discussing a rapid resolution to the war.

US sources confirmed that the Ukrainian government was informed of the phone call and did not raise any objections. The news of an imminent contact between Washington and Moscow had already been aired in the previous days, and Kiev had assumed that the American administration would move in this direction to explore diplomatic ways of resolution.

The prospect of peace and international pressure

The call between Trump and Putin comes as international leaders are stepping up pressure to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. In this regard, Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said that Russia must answer for war crimes committed in Ukraine and pay for the destruction caused. Borrell stressed that a peace agreement cannot be limited to a simple ceasefire, but must be fair and lasting, to prevent the conflict from flaring up again in the future.

The Military Situation on the Ground and the Call for Moderation

In parallel with the diplomatic moves, the situation on the ground remains highly tense. According to the *New York Times*, some 50.000 Russian and North Korean troops are in the Kursk region, ready for a possible offensive action. On the Ukrainian side, Kiev reported a record nighttime Russian drone strike, which has further escalated tensions. In this climate of instability, Trump's call for restraint plays a crucial role, suggesting that the United States may seek a more cautious and targeted approach to de-escalation.

Scholz and the dialogue with Putin: The role of Germany

Other European leaders are also considering a return to diplomacy. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently said that, when the time is right, he intends to start a direct dialogue with Putin to discuss the war. Scholz said that an attempt to call Putin had already been made a few weeks ago, but without success. Germany's willingness to resume dialogue with Moscow indicates Europe's interest in a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but in a context in which the continent's stability depends on a coordinated and decisive strategy.

Trump's Diplomatic Challenge and Future Implications

The phone call between Trump and Putin marks a potentially new phase in relations between Washington and Moscow, especially considering that Trump has openly expressed interest in discussing further steps towards peace in Ukraine. However, this initiative could encounter obstacles both internally, with the incumbent President Joe Biden, who has not hidden his doubts about Russian intentions, and externally, considering the European Union's resistance to easing pressure on Moscow without concrete guarantees. It is no coincidence that Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, reiterated that the American president will ask Trump not to abandon Ukraine, keeping his guard up in defense of Ukrainian interests.

Trump and Putin’s telephone conversation is an important first step, but it remains to be seen whether it will actually influence the course of the war in Ukraine. Trump’s call for restraint and his interest in future dialogue indicate a potential opening to a new diplomatic phase. However, the complex situation and the firm stance of the European Union and other Western allies underscore how difficult it will be to reach a swift and stable resolution. Pending further developments, coordination between the United States, Europe and Ukraine remains essential to establish a common strategy that can bring an end to a conflict that continues to claim victims and generate instability.