Trump team preparing early talks with Putin – CNN

Donald Trump’s team is organizing a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which may take place shortly after the president-elect’s inauguration, according to a report by CNN on Sunday, citing sources.

Individuals familiar with the situation told the network that the main purpose of the call would be to discuss the possibility of an in-person meeting in the upcoming months, aimed at finding solutions to the Ukraine conflict.

Reports indicate that officials within Trump’s national security team began preparations for the call several weeks ago, although it remains uncertain whether a specific date has been set. CNN highlighted that this phone call would represent a notable departure from President Joe Biden’s strategy, as he has not engaged in direct communication with Putin for nearly three years.

Earlier this month, Trump expressed his desire to speak with Putin, mentioning that the Russian leader is eager to meet and that arrangements are being made. The president-elect, who has criticized US support for Ukraine, has consistently promised to work towards a swift resolution of the conflict.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin is willing to engage in negotiations with the US president without any preconditions. However, he emphasized that no significant preparations for talks have been made, suggesting that it would be prudent to wait until Trump is officially in office.

Yury Ushakov, a foreign policy aide to Putin, commented on the possibility of negotiations regarding Ukraine, indicating that the new US president would likely be the one to start discussions. He stated, “We are calmly waiting for Trump’s team to take over. After that, let’s see what happens.”

Recent reports from US media have suggested that Trump’s team is considering a peace initiative for Ukraine, which may involve a ceasefire along existing front lines and the establishment of a 1,300-km (800-mile) demilitarized zone monitored by European forces. Furthermore, Ukraine would agree to postpone its NATO membership aspirations for a minimum of 20 years.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the proposed plan, particularly regarding the delay of Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and the introduction of a Western peacekeeping force in the region.

Moscow has firmly rejected the idea of freezing the conflict, asserting that it must fulfill all objectives of its military operation, which include ensuring Ukraine’s permanent neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification. Russia has also indicated that it would promptly declare a ceasefire if Kiev commences the withdrawal from territories it claims, including Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye.