Kathmandu, Nov 11: Following his victory in the US presidential election, Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports by the *Washington Post*.

The call, made from Trump’s Florida resort, reportedly included discussions on de-escalating the war in Ukraine. Trump advised Putin against escalating the conflict, emphasizing the presence of a significant US military force in Europe. Putin congratulated Trump on his election victory and expressed willingness to negotiate, stressing the importance of restoring US-Russia relations and working towards peace in Ukraine.

The two leaders discussed pathways to achieving peace in Europe, with Trump expressing a desire for continued negotiations to resolve the Ukraine war. During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war immediately but did not provide specifics. Sources indicate Trump privately signaled support for a deal allowing Russia to retain some seized territory, a topic briefly mentioned during the call.

Ukrainian officials were reportedly informed of the conversation and raised no objections. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke with Trump on November 8, congratulating him on his win. Trump assured Zelensky of US support but did not elaborate on his stance.

Initially, Russia responded cautiously to Trump’s victory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin had no immediate plans to invite Trump for discussions. However, on Thursday, Putin publicly congratulated Trump and acknowledged his willingness to negotiate, commending his resilience following an alleged assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

Putin remarked, “If world leaders want to restore contact, I am not against it. Trump has expressed his desire, and we are ready to talk.”

The conversation marks a potential shift in US-Russia relations as Trump seeks to fulfill his campaign promise to address the ongoing war in Ukraine.