Good morning

I'm Daniel, and welcome to Table Stakes. Today's topics:

Trump wants to end the Russo-Ukrainian war on his first day in office.

Dozens were detained in Amsterdam after a pro-Palestine demonstration went left.

And finally,

Trump may loosen the United States' grip on Taiwan.

Let's dive in.

Peace on Day 1?

By: Daniel Murrah

With the United States presidential election coming to an end with a landslide republican victory, President-elect Donald Trump has already begun his diplomatic work. According to the Washington Post, Trump had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he urged Putin not to escalate the war any further and reminded Putin of the United States' strong military presence across Europe. For his entire campaign, Trump promised to begin working on peace in Ukraine before his inauguration. He also promised to end the war completely on his first day in office.

Trump's Promise

During the September 10 presidential debate, Trump said of Ukraine, "That is a war that's dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president." Immediately, this comment received ridicule from the Biden administration. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris responded by saying, "I believe the reason that Donald Trump says that this war would be over within 24 hours is because he would just give it up. And that's not who we are as Americans."

According to Harris, Trump's strategy would probably entail giving in to Russian pressure, which would weaken Ukraine's independence and give Russian President Vladimir Putin more confidence. She cautioned that Trump's pledges might result in a softer posture against Russian aggression and underlined that the Biden administration's sustained assistance for Ukraine was essential to preserving its independence.

Trump has maintained his claim that he can bring the battle to a swift conclusion in spite of these concerns. His ability to mediate peace has often been attributed to his connections with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump has not, however, specified how he plans to accomplish this resolution, which begs the question of what compromises could be required in any possible agreement.

The Call

Trump immediately began interacting with foreign leaders after winning the 2024 election. The Washington Post reports that Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone on November 7, 2024. Trump reminded Putin of the significant U.S. military presence in Europe during the call and cautioned him against intensifying the conflict in Ukraine. According to reports, the discussion centered on the idea that peace is Europe's ultimate goal, and Trump indicated interest in holding additional talks to find a quick solution to the conflict.

Trump's staff released a statement highlighting Trump's dedication to world peace and stability, but they did not confirm or refute the details of the call. Although the contact was a first step in Trump's diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation in Ukraine, it also sparked questions about how his administration may handle future relations with Russia.

Moving Forward

There are still concerns about Trump's ability to manage US foreign policy with regard to Russia and Ukraine as he gets ready for his second term. Trump has expressed doubts about the continuation of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, which has been a pillar of American policy since Russia's invasion in 2022, both throughout his campaign and in remarks made after the election. Some observers have conjectured that he could advocate for a peace agreement that could freeze the war rather than completely cease it because of his emphasis on bringing it to a swift conclusion.

Opponents contend that such a strategy might expose Ukraine to Russian assault in the future. Both Ukraine and its European allies are concerned about the prospect of diminished military assistance or territory concessions

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