The Kremlin on Monday forcefully denied reports that President-elect Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine, creating confusion over alleged diplomatic outreach ahead of Trump’s return to the White House.
“This is completely untrue. This is pure fiction,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, calling the reports “the most obvious example of the quality of the information that is being published now, sometimes even in fairly reputable publications.”
A source familiar with the alleged conversation had told Reuters that Trump, who has criticized extensive U.S. support for Kyiv, advised Putin against escalating the Ukraine war. The Washington Post first reported the purported call, citing unnamed sources. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, declined to comment on “private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.”
The disputed communication surfaces as the Biden administration prepares for transition. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that Biden will use his remaining 70 days to convince Congress and Trump’s incoming administration “that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe.”
Trump’s approach to the conflict has worried Ukrainian officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who spoke with Trump last Wednesday, said Thursday he was unaware of Trump’s plan to quickly end the war, expressing concern that rapid peace would require major Ukrainian concessions.
The United States has provided over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine under Biden, according to the Government Accountability Office. This support faces uncertain prospects under Trump, with Republicans set to control the Senate with 52 seats and potentially the House, where they currently hold 213 seats of the 218 needed for majority.
Senator Bill Hagerty, a Trump ally and potential secretary of state candidate, reflected growing Republican skepticism toward Ukraine funding: “The American people want sovereignty protected here in America before we spend our funds and resources protecting the sovereignty of another nation.”
Trump has previously claimed Putin would not have invaded Ukraine had he been president, while suggesting Ukraine might need to cede territory for peace, a position Kyiv rejects and Biden has never entertained.
