Scholz, Trump agree to seek peace in Ukraine in phone call

The German Chancellor and US President-elect agreed to pursue fair peace while European leaders prepare for potentially reduced US support.

Dec 20, 2024 - 01:00

Scholz, Trump agree to seek peace in Ukraine in phone call

scholz trump agree seek peace ukraine phone call donald (left) during first presidential term 2018; german chancellor olaf (right) (photo sources flickr/trump white house archived steffen kugler/bundesregierung politico) trump-sholz-phone-scholz-hancellor-president-elect president-elect

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called US President-elect Donald Trump on 19 December during the European Council summit in Brussels, Politico reports.

Trump, who assumes office in late January, pushes for negotiations to end the Russo-Ukrainian war, which could potentially benefit Russia. He also stated he would “probably” reduce the US aid for Ukraine. He indicated earlier he expects the EU to take the lead in supporting Ukraine, both militarily and in potential cease-fire negotiations with Moscow. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, however, emphasized that EU guarantees alone would not suffice, insisting that NATO, particularly the US, must provide “real guarantees.”

The call occurred as EU leaders gathered to discuss global affairs and preparations for potentially reduced US support during Trump’s upcoming term.

According to the German Government’s readout, both leaders “agreed that the Russian war against Ukraine had gone on for far too long and that it was important to get on the path to a fair, just and sustainable peace as soon as possible.” Scholz reaffirmed his support for Ukraine’s defense “against the Russian war of aggression for as long as necessary.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, present at the Brussels summit, expressed openness to Trump’s involvement.

“Welcome, Donald,” Zelenskyy told reporters on 19 December, according to Politico, adding that he very much “wants Trump to help us and finish this war.”

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