The Kremlin has firmly denied reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last week regarding the conflict in Ukraine. The allegations, initially reported by The Washington Post and later echoed by other outlets, suggested that Trump had urged Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine during a phone call, citing the extensive U.S. military presence in Europe.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports as "pure fiction" during a Monday press call. "There was no conversation. It is completely untrue. It is pure fiction; it is simply false information," Peskov declared. The denial casts doubt on the claims made by unnamed sources that the two leaders had engaged in direct talks.
Trump's communications director, Steven Cheung, offered a similarly vague response, stating, "We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders." The lack of confirmation from both sides has only fueled speculation about potential back-channel discussions as the conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold.
The Washington Post's initial report claimed that Trump had advised Putin against escalating hostilities and reiterated the significant U.S. military presence in Europe. The conversation, if true, would mark the first direct communication between the two leaders since Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election. It also suggested that Trump expressed interest in continued discussions to bring a resolution to the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
Peskov's comments come amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Over the weekend, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack targeting Moscow and its suburbs, while Russia intensified strikes on civilian areas within Ukraine. The ongoing violence has brought the war closer to its 1,000th day, with no signs of de-escalation.
The Kremlin's swift rejection of the alleged phone call follows Putin's public congratulatory remarks for Trump during a foreign policy forum in Sochi. During his speech, Putin praised Trump for his "brave" conduct during an assassination attempt earlier this year. Despite the apparent openness for dialogue expressed by both leaders, Peskov confirmed that there are currently "no specific plans" for a conversation between them.
Throughout his campaign, Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine "within a day" but has yet to outline a detailed plan for achieving such a resolution. His critics argue that such a promise lacks substance and raises questions about his approach to complex geopolitical issues. In the meantime, Trump's interactions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including a confirmed conversation last week, suggest he is actively engaging with both sides of the conflict.
The Biden administration, which has provided extensive military and economic aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022, is expected to press Trump to maintain support for Kyiv during a traditional post-election Oval Office meeting scheduled for Wednesday. President Joe Biden's national security team has emphasized the importance of sustaining U.S. assistance to Ukraine to prevent further instability in Europe.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Russia is bolstering its military presence along its western border with Ukraine, allegedly with support from North Korean soldiers. According to U.S. intelligence, Moscow has amassed a force of 50,000 troops, including North Korean personnel, for a potential offensive aimed at driving Ukrainian forces out of the western Kursk region. The New York Times reported that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers, including high-ranking officers, have recently arrived in Russia, a development that Ukraine views as a significant escalation.
