WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and recommended that he refrain from escalating the conflict in Ukraine, according to a source who shared details of the conversation with Reuters on Sunday. This comes as President Joe Biden is expected to advise Trump not to withdraw support from Kyiv.

The source noted that Trump and Putin had a conversation within the past few days. Trump also connected with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday. Trump has been critical of the level of U.S. military and financial aid to Ukraine, asserting that he intends to bring an end to the war swiftly, though he hasn’t elaborated on his approach.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry mentioned that it was not made aware ahead of time about the Trump-Putin call, hence they could not approve or disapprove of it.

Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, commented, “We do not comment on private conversations between President Trump and other international leaders,” when asked about the call, which The Washington Post first reported.

The Russian embassy in Washington did not promptly reply to a request for comments.

Trump, a Republican, is set to assume office on January 20 following his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election held on November 5. Biden has extended an invitation to Trump to meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday, as per the White House announcement.

On Sunday, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that Biden’s main objective will be to ensure a smooth transition of power and will also discuss current events in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East with Trump.

Sullivan conveyed, “President Biden will have the next 70 days to advocate to Congress and the incoming administration that the U.S. should not turn its back on Ukraine, as doing so would lead to greater instability in Europe,” during an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

His remarks were made as Ukraine launched a large drone attack on Moscow, involving at least 34 drones, marking the most significant drone strike on the Russian capital since the war began. When questioned about whether Biden would request Congress to pass legislation for additional funding for Ukraine, Sullivan redirected the question to Biden.

“I’m not here to propose specific legislation. President Biden will argue that we need continued resources for Ukraine even beyond his presidency,” Sullivan stated.

Funding for Ukraine

The U.S. has provided Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, which Trump has consistently opposed, rallying other Republican lawmakers to his stance.

Trump claimed last year that if he were president, Putin would not have invaded Ukraine. He also suggested to Reuters that some Ukrainian territory may need to be given up to achieve a peace deal, a notion which Ukrainians firmly reject, and which Biden has not proposed.

Zelenskyy mentioned on Thursday that he was unaware of any specific details regarding Trump’s plan for a quick resolution to the conflict, asserting that a rapid conclusion would likely require significant concessions from Kyiv.

The Government Accountability Office reported that Congress allocated over $174 billion to Ukraine under Biden’s administration. Aid is likely to decrease with Trump in office, particularly with Republicans anticipated to take control of the U.S. Senate, holding a majority of 52 seats.

The outcome of the U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming Congress remains uncertain, as counting of some votes continues. Republicans, per Edison Research, have secured 213 seats, just short of the 218 required for a majority. If they win both chambers, Trump’s proposals will likely face less resistance in Congress.

Republican Senator Bill Hagerty, a Trump supporter and a leading candidate for secretary of state, criticized U.S. funding for Ukraine during a CBS interview.

Hagerty stated, “The American people want their sovereignty protected at home before we allocate funds and resources to safeguard the sovereignty of another country.”

The conflict in Ukraine, now ongoing for two and a half years, seems to be entering what some officials believe could be its concluding phase, following rapid advancements by Russian forces—the fastest since the war’s early days. Any new efforts to resolve the conflict will likely involve some form of peace negotiations, which have not occurred since the war’s initial months.

Currently, Russian forces control about 20% of Ukraine. Russia claims that the war cannot conclude until its annexations are recognized, while Kyiv demands the restoration of all its territory, a stance largely supported by Western allies.