The Kremlin has denied recent reports claiming that Donald Trump held a phone call with Vladimir Putin, advising the Russian president not to escalate the war in Ukraine. The Washington Post and Reuters initially reported that Trump had communicated with Putin, citing anonymous sources, but the Kremlin strongly refuted the claims.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Russian government, called the reports “false information” and denied any conversation had taken place. Trump had previously suggested he could find a way to end the war quickly, leading to concerns among Ukrainian leaders about his potential approach to the conflict.
Ukraine’s reaction to Trump’s election victory has been cautious but optimistic, with some Ukrainian politicians expressing hope that his presidency may not force the country into a difficult position regarding the ongoing war.
Despite Trump’s past promises to resolve the conflict swiftly, Ukrainian officials are wary of how his policies could impact the nation’s sovereignty and security, given his rhetoric during the campaign. There is an undercurrent of uncertainty in Kyiv, as Ukraine continues to navigate its relationship with the United States under new leadership.
On the domestic front, Trump has appointed former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Tom Homan as the “border czar” for his administration. Homan will oversee all matters related to border security, including deportations, and will manage security at the southern and northern borders as well as maritime and aviation security.
Donald Trump
Trump’s focus on immigration was a central theme of his campaign, with a commitment to strengthening border controls and ramping up deportations. Homan, a vocal advocate for strict immigration enforcement, has pledged to establish a significant deportation force if Trump is re-elected.
In international news, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal team has requested a delay in his corruption trial testimony, citing ongoing developments in the war with Hamas as a reason for the delay. The request for a two-and-a-half-month postponement aims to allow sufficient time for Netanyahu’s defense team to prepare his case amid the ongoing security crisis.
Meanwhile, violence continues in Gaza, with an Israeli airstrike killing at least three people, including parents of twins, in central Gaza. In Israel, firefighting efforts are underway to control fires sparked by debris from an intercepted missile.
COP29 has officially begun in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a focus on finance, as developing countries demand more support to cope with the effects of climate change. The conference is expected to address the economic challenges posed by extreme weather events, which have resulted in significant financial losses worldwide.
Over the past decade, extreme weather has caused $2 trillion in damages, with the United States, China, and India being the most heavily affected. At the same time, global efforts to tackle climate change continue, with discussions around the role of private finance in helping developing nations transition to a net-zero economy.
