US President-elect Donald Trump is planning a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days or weeks, according to Mike Waltz, Trump’s incoming national security adviser. 

The call could pave the way for a future face-to-face meeting between the leaders to address the ongoing war in Ukraine.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to swiftly end the war between Ukraine and Russia, even before taking office. However, he appears to have backtracked on this promise. Speaking to ABC on 12 January, Waltz stressed that the incoming administration supports a diplomatic resolution to the war, while acknowledging the complexities involved, particularly in securing a full Russian withdrawal from Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.

“I just don't think it's realistic to say we're going to expel every Russian from every inch of Ukrainian soil, even Crimea. President Trump has acknowledged that reality, and I think it’s been a huge step forward that the entire world is acknowledging that reality. Now let's move forward,” Waltz said.

Waltz also highlighted that the Trump administration views a ceasefire as a critical first step towards de-escalating the conflict. 

“We would like to see a ceasefire any minute, any day. I think that would be an incredibly positive first step on both sides,” he said, adding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy may be included in future negotiations, though details remain uncertain.

Despite the potential for dialogue, Russian President Putin has maintained his position that Moscow will not relinquish any of the territory it has annexed. He continues to call for recognition of the “realities on the ground” as a prerequisite for peace. Speaking at his annual press conference in December 2024, Putin reiterated that Moscow is open to discussions on ending the war “without any preconditions,” as long as any negotiation is based on the agreement allegedly reached during meetings in Istanbul in early 2022.

The so-called Istanbul agreement followed peace talks in February and March 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While Moscow has claimed that these discussions resulted in a formal deal, Kyiv has consistently denied signing any binding agreements. Ukrainian officials have stated that discussions were held and compromises considered, but no commitments were made. Kyiv has also said that its Western allies were excluded from these talks. The discovery of atrocities in Bucha reportedly prompted Ukraine to withdraw from the process. Putin, however, has blamed Western interference – particularly from then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson – for derailing the agreement. Both Zelenskiy and Johnson have denied these allegations.

Russia’s demands for a settlement include recognition of Crimea and other occupied territories as Russian and Ukraine’s acceptance of a neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status. Kyiv has rejected these conditions as ultimatums.