Trump calls for Ukraine ceasefire, says US could 'absolutely' leave NATO

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to take immediate action to implement a ceasefire with Ukraine. He stated that this is part of his active efforts, as President-elect, to end the war, despite being weeks away from officially taking office. Trump wrote on social media, "Zelensky and Ukraine want a deal." He was referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a televised interview aired on Sunday, Trump also indicated his willingness to reduce military aid to Ukraine and have the U.S. withdraw from NATO. These two threats have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies, and many within the U.S. national security community. When asked if he was actively working to end the nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine, Trump stated on NBC's "Meet the Press," "I am doing that."

He declined to disclose whether he had spoken with Putin since winning the election last November. "I don't want to comment on that because I don't want to do anything that might interfere with negotiations," Trump said. Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire goes beyond the publicly stated policy positions of the Biden administration and Ukraine, and it has drawn a cautious response from Zelensky. It also marks a rare deep dive by Trump into addressing one of the major global crises facing the outgoing Biden administration, before his inauguration on January 20, 2025.

Trump made the suggestion after meeting with French and Ukrainian leaders in Paris, where many world leaders gathered to celebrate the completion of the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral following a devastating fire. None of the advisors who accompanied him appear to have expertise on Ukraine. Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that Kyiv wants a deal and to “stop the madness.” “There should be an immediate ceasefire, and negotiations should begin.” He added: “I know Vladimir very well. Now is the time for him to act. China can help. The whole world is watching!” He was referring to China’s mediation efforts that many in the West see as favoring Russia.

Zelensky called his discussion with Trump on Saturday "constructive" but did not provide further details. The discussion was facilitated by French President Emmanuel Macron. In a post on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday, Zelensky cautioned that Ukraine needs a "just and strong peace that Russia will not destroy in a few years." "When we talk about an effective peace with Russia, we must first talk about effective peace guarantees. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone. Russia brought the war to our land," Zelensky said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responding to Trump's post, repeated Moscow's long-standing message that it is open to negotiations with Ukraine. Peskov referred to a decree issued by Zelensky in October 2022, which formally declared that any prospect of negotiations was "impossible" as long as Putin remained the leader of Russia. The decree was issued after Putin declared four occupied regions of Ukraine to be part of Russia, a move that Kyiv and the West see as a clear violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.

Trump's former national security advisor, retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, cautioned that there are no quick fixes to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. “What I worry about is this false notion that you can appease Putin, right, that Putin is going to come to some kind of an agreement,” McMaster said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I think it’s really important that President Trump sticks to his instincts on this...peace through strength,” McMaster added, “rather than give them the weapons they need to defend themselves, and then say to Putin, ‘You’re going to lose this war?’”

While Trump has previously expressed a desire to see a swift ceasefire in Ukraine, his proposal on Sunday was seen as a direct appeal to Russia. The swift responses from both Ukraine and Russia indicate that they are taking the thoughts of the incoming U.S. President very seriously. Both Trump and Biden administration officials have pointed to Russia’s withdrawal from Syria as an indication that the war in Ukraine has been draining Russian resources. In recent days, Russian forces have largely withdrawn from Syria as Syrian rebels have overthrown the country's Russian-aligned president.

The Biden administration and other supporters of Ukraine have been careful to avoid being seen as forcing Ukraine into an immediate ceasefire. Ukraine's allies fear that a quick deal would largely be on the terms of its more powerful neighbor, potentially forcing Ukraine into damaging concessions and allowing Russia to re-engage in war after rebuilding its military strength. For much of the war, Kyiv's official position has been to call for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, as a condition for peace talks. Moscow has also demanded significant concessions from Ukraine as a condition for starting negotiations.

Trump has portrayed himself as someone who can quickly strike deals to resolve the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which have frustrated many of the Biden administration's mediation efforts. There are no rules prohibiting incoming officials or nominees from meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and permissible for them to do so—unless the purpose of those meetings is to subvert or otherwise influence current U.S. policy. The Logan Act prohibits private citizens from attempting to interfere in a "dispute or controversy" between the U.S. and a foreign power without government authorization. However, the 1799 statute has only resulted in two criminal cases, none of which have occurred after the 1850s, and none of which have led to criminal convictions.

In an NBC interview recorded on Friday, Trump again warned NATO allies that he does not consider continued U.S. participation in the Western military alliance to be a given in his second term. Trump has long complained that European and Canadian governments are taking advantage of U.S. military spending in the collective defense group, with the U.S. being by far the most powerful partner in NATO. NATO and its member governments have stated that most countries in the group are now meeting voluntary military spending targets, partly due to pressure applied by Trump during his first term.

When asked about the possibility of considering withdrawing from NATO, Trump said it was an open question. “If they pay their bills, and if I think that they’re fair to us, then the answer is absolutely I would stay in NATO,” he said. But if not, when asked if he would consider pulling the U.S. out of the alliance, Trump responded, “Sure. Yes, sure.” When asked whether Ukraine should prepare for possible cuts in U.S. aid after Trump enters the White House, Trump expressed the same openness. “It’s possible,” he said.

Weapons and other military support provided by the United States have been crucial to Ukraine's efforts to resist the Russian invasion, and Democratic President Joe Biden has been increasing aid to Ukraine before leaving office. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Saturday nearly $1 billion (AUD 1.57 billion) in long-term weapons support for Ukraine.