Official statements or press releases from the U.S. or Russian government

Trump-Putin Phone Call Expected Soon as First Step Toward Meeting, Acknowledges Crimea Reality

Jan 12, 2025, 05:41 PM

Donald Trump, the U.S. President-elect, is expected to hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days or weeks, according to Mike Waltz, Trump's nominee for national security advisor. Waltz, speaking to ABC News, described the call as the first step toward a potential meeting between the two leaders, with preparations for such a meeting already underway. Trump believes that reaching an agreement on Ukraine is impossible without dialogue with Russia, and his administration plans to establish a relationship and dialogue with Russia in the coming months. Waltz also stated that it is unrealistic to expect to expel every Russian from every inch of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, a position that Trump has acknowledged.