NBC News: Trump team in talks with Biden and Ukrainian officials about ending war with Russia
The United States stands at a crossroads in its support for Ukraine, as President-elect Trump's team engages in preliminary diplomatic discussions that could reshape American policy in Europe.
President-elect Donald Trump’s national security team has held discussions with the White House and Ukrainian leaders as part of a concerted effort to find a way to end the war with Russia, multiple sources with knowledge of the matter told NBC News.
As noted by the media outlet, Trump’s advisers and Cabinet nominees, who hold a range of views on Ukraine, have yet to present a conceptual or specific peace plan to Kyiv, the sources said.
The president-elect has vowed to end the conflict even before he is inaugurated next month, calling the casualties suffered on both sides “a tragedy.” But he has sent mixed signals in his public comments, urging Russia to make peace but also suggesting he might scale back US military aid to Ukraine or reimpose limits on Kyiv’s use of American-made long-range missiles against targets inside Russia.
Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has reportedly had several conversations with his likely Republican successor, Mike Walz. One source said Sullivan and Waltz focused on sharing relevant information but did not explore ways to end the war in Ukraine or secure a cease-fire.
On the Ukrainian track, the talks took place during the latest visit of the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, to the US – Vice-President-elect JD Vance met with him in particular, NBC News claims. Communication also took place at the level of leaders – Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump.
NBC News’ source says recent meetings and conversations between Zelenskyy, Trump and their advisers have been constructive.
“The atmosphere thus far in terms of the engagement between the Ukrainians and the incoming Trump team, including Zelenskyy and Trump himself, has been positive,” one of the sources said.
Another source claims that Trump “himself realizes that Ukrainians are not an obstacle to peace.”
At the same time, the material says, Donald Trump’s team has not yet informed Ukraine about any potential “peace plans”.
Related:
- Trump signals that cutting US aid to Ukraine is “possible” when he takes office
- Ukraine dismisses Orbán’s unauthorized peace initiative with Russia, rejects claims on Christmas ceasefire
- War will end when Putin admits Ukraine invasion failure, says Polish FM
- Ukrainian army lost 43,000 soldiers since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Zelenskyy reveals
- Zelenskyy top aide meets Trump advisers to discuss war settlement with Russia – media
- Estonia advocates European troops in Ukraine to secure peace
