Trump reiterates intention to end war in Ukraine

The newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, once again addressed the issue of ending the war in Ukraine, promising that his administration would prioritize this matter.

He made the statement at a gala event at his Mar-a-Lago residence, according to CNN and Rubryka.

Trump mentioned that his team would "work very hard on Russia and Ukraine."

"It's gotta stop. Russia and Ukraine's gotta stop," he emphasized, adding, "Whether they're soldiers or they're people sitting in towns, we're going to work it."

During the event, Trump also joked that things have been going exceptionally well in the country since his election, suggesting that his term should be considered to have started on November 5, the election day.

"Now the only thing is, Mr. Speaker, I think it's important, maybe you should pass a bill — you have to start my term from November 5, OK? Or November 6 if you want. November 5, because the market's gone through the roof, enthusiasm's doubled in the last short while," said the newly elected president.

Trump's position on Ukraine

The stance of Republican Donald Trump and his team on Ukraine remains unclear. During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly stated that he would "end the war" if re-elected, though he did not specify how he would achieve this.

He claimed that he could end the war in 24 hours, partly due to his good relations with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At the same time, Trump threatened to halt financial aid to Ukraine and "withdraw" from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In a debate with Joe Biden, Trump called Putin's demands for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from occupied regions and Ukraine's refusal to join NATO "unacceptable."

However, Trump, the winner of the presidential election, has yet to outline a clear plan for ending the war in Ukraine. Some advisers have suggested pressuring Ukraine to refrain from joining NATO for 20 years in exchange for continued US arms support. Additionally, Russia and Ukraine could agree on a demilitarized zone of over 1,200 km.

It's worth noting that The Washington Post previously reported on Trump's discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The main topic was Russia's war against Ukraine. According to the newspaper, Trump advised Putin not to escalate the war and reminded him of the presence of US troops in Europe. Trump also reportedly expressed interest in further dialogue to find a solution to the conflict.

On November 7, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president announced that they had agreed to enhance cooperation. During the 25-minute conversation, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Ukraine. American billionaire Elon Musk also participated in the call.

It is important to mention that Brian Lanza, a former adviser to Trump, stated that the new administration would focus on achieving peace in Ukraine, rather than giving Kyiv the chance to reclaim territories occupied by Russia. The priority, according to Lanza, is to "stop the killing."

However, a spokesperson for Trump's transition team clarified that Lanza was not speaking on behalf of Trump when he suggested that Ukraine should present a realistic vision for peace and refrain from seeking the return of Crimea.