Trump makes Republican history; Issues warning to Putin

Donald Trump has discussed the war in Ukraine with Vladimir Putin, as the President-elect made Republican history. Follow live updates.

Donald Trump warned Vladimir Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine as a 50,000-strong Russian force – bolstered by North Korean troops – prepared an assault to reclaim territory.

The President-elect spoke to the Russian President two days after his election victory, according to the Washington Post, with Mr Trump expressing interest in further talks to discuss a resolution to the war that began with Russia’s invasion almost three years ago.

A source briefed on the call told Axios that Mr Trump essentially said to Mr Putin: “Don’t escalate because I have weapons too.”

During the election campaign, the Republican repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours but refused to detail his plan for peace, leaving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to fear he would cut off US military aid and force him to give up territory.

Mr Trump also spoke with Mr Zelensky in the aftermath of his win over Vice President Kamala Harris, a call that was joined by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who looms as an influential figure in his new administration.

“President Trump won a historic election decisively and leaders from around the world know America will return to prominence on the world stage,” the President-elect’s spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

“That is why leaders have begun the process of developing stronger relationships with the 45th and 47th President because he represents global peace and stability.”

The talks came as US and Ukrainian officials told The New York Times that Moscow’s military had 50,000 soldiers ready to fight for territory in the Kursk region of Russia that had been seized by Ukrainian forces.

Mr Putin was full of praise for Mr Trump after his victory, calling him “a courageous man”.

“What was said [by Mr Trump] about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis – in my opinion, this deserves attention at least,” the Russian President said.

As the fallout from the election continued, Mr Trump clinched the highest popular vote total for any Republican candidate in history, eclipsing his record of 74.2 million votes from four years ago.

He also intervened in the race for the Republican leadership in the Senate, saying party members needed to choose someone who would agree to push through his appointments to key posts without votes in the chamber.

And Ms Harris’s former communications director Jamal Simmons floated a bizarre plan for President Joe Biden to resign and make her America’s first female commander-in-chief before Mr Trump was sworn in on January 20.

“This is the moment for us to change the entire perspective of how Democrats operate,” he told CNN.

Mr Biden is set to host Mr Trump at the White House on Thursday (AEDT).

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Originally published as Trump makes Republican history; Issues warning to Putin