Kremlin denies Putin Trump call/ Putin Trump Ukraine war/ Trump private calls world leaders/ Russia denies Trump call/ Newslooks/ MOSCOW/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Kremlin denied reports on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken with President-elect Donald Trump about the Ukraine war last week. Trump’s spokesman declined to comment on his “private calls,” while Russia’s Dmitry Peskov labeled the reports “pure fiction.”
Kremlin Denies Reports of Putin-Trump Call Over Ukraine Conflict Quick Looks
- Kremlin denial: Russia dismisses reports of a conversation between Putin and Trump.
- Trump’s response: Trump’s team refuses to comment on any “private calls” with leaders.
- Ukraine conflict: Russia and Ukraine continue escalating strikes, approaching 1,000 days of conflict.
Kremlin Denies Reports of Putin-Trump Call on Ukraine War
Deep Look
On Monday, the Kremlin dismissed reports claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin held a conversation last week with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. The report, originally published by The Washington Post and citing anonymous sources, suggested that Trump had advised Putin against escalating the conflict and highlighted the extensive U.S. military presence in Europe. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refuted the claim, calling it “completely untrue” and “pure fiction.”
Trump’s Office Declines to Confirm or Deny Call
In response to the reports, Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, stated, “We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders,” leaving ambiguity around the alleged conversation. Although the Kremlin has denied that such a call took place, Peskov mentioned that while there are no “specific plans” for a call between Trump and Putin at this stage, contact before Trump’s inauguration is “not ruled out.” During his campaign, Trump said he would prioritize speaking with Putin and even suggested he could help quickly resolve the conflict in Ukraine, though he has not provided specific details on his approach.
Putin Praises Trump at Russian Forum
In a foreign policy forum held last Thursday in Sochi, Putin publicly congratulated Trump on his recent election win and praised him for his resilience, referring to his “brave” response to a July assassination attempt. Putin’s comments marked one of the first public acknowledgments of Trump’s victory by a major world leader.
Continued Escalation in Ukraine War
While the Kremlin dismissed reports of any discussion between Trump and Putin, the Ukraine conflict has continued to intensify. Russia launched increased strikes on Ukrainian civilian areas as the war approaches its 1,000-day milestone. Meanwhile, over the weekend, Ukraine sent a large wave of drones into Russian territory, rattling Moscow and its surrounding regions.
As Russia’s attacks on Ukraine intensify, Trump’s position on how he would address the conflict remains a critical question. While he has hinted at an approach he believes could end the fighting, specifics remain unclear, and the Kremlin has denied having any recent contact with Trump’s campaign team.
