January 21st, 2025: Putin Issues ‘World War III’ Warning to Trump & Houthi Rebels Back Down
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What warning did Putin give to Trump?
During a televised meeting of Russia's Security Council on Monday, Putin offered his congratulations to Trump on his return to office, specifically praising the president's desire to re-establish direct diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Russia, which were severed following Putin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It was a marked departure from the Kremlin's stance back in early November when they refused to congratulate Trump on his victory, citing what they described as the U.S. 's unfriendly stance towards Moscow, according to a report from Reuters. Putin said he was now ready to engage with the Trump administration on the subject of reining in nuclear arms and ending the war in Ukraine, though he qualified his statements, warning that Russia's territorial gains in eastern Ukraine must be accepted by the West if they want talks to get off the ground.
Putin said, quote, We see the statements by the newly elected president of the United States and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia. We also hear his statements about the need to do everything possible to prevent World War III. We of course welcome this attitude and congratulate the elected President of the United States of America on taking office. Relations between the U.S. and Russia have, of course, significantly deteriorated over the last three years, falling to their lowest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis due to Russia's war on Ukraine. But Trump's return has fostered a cautious sense of optimism in international circles that the two global powers can begin mending fences
Tackling the issue of Ukraine will be easier said than done for President Trump. As we've been tracking on the PDB, Trump has previously stated that he could end the war within 24 hours of assuming office. Though he walked back those lofty ambitions earlier this month, telling reporters he hoped to resolve the conflict within six months. Separately, retired General Keith Kellogg, Trump's nominee for special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, has set a goal of ending the war within Trump's first 100 days. Putin claims he's long been open to dialogue and diplomacy regarding the nearly three-year-old conflict, though many in the West remain skeptical that his supposed interest in a peace deal is genuine.
Those concerns are compounded by the fact that so far, the Kremlin's rough proposals for peace amount to little more than a full Ukrainian surrender.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What warning did Putin give to Trump?
1:48–5:07
2
What is the new strategy of Yemen's Houthi rebels?
5:07–5:40
3
What recent violence occurred in Colombia?
5:40–5:59
4
How are world leaders reacting to Trump's inauguration?
5:59–8:32
5
What executive actions did Trump take after his inauguration?
8:32–10:36
6
What did the Houthi rebels announce regarding international shipping?
10:36–17:24
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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