Intrigue swirls around reports of a alleged phone call between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the Kremlin flatly denying the conversation about the Ukraine war took place while some media outlets claim otherwise. The conflicting accounts have ignited a firestorm of speculation about the relationship between the incoming American leader and his Russian counterpart.
Kremlin: Talk of Trump-Putin Call “Pure Fiction”
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin, pushed back hard against reports that Trump and Putin spoke by phone on Thursday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “Putin has no specific plans to speak to Trump at the present,” Peskov stated unequivocally. He blasted media reports of a call as “pure fiction.”
The forceful denial came after The Washington Post first reported that sources indicated Trump had advised Putin in a call not to escalate the war in Ukraine. Reuters also published a similar account based on its own sourcing. But the Kremlin insisted no such discussion occurred.
Trump Reportedly Urged Putin Not to Escalate
According to The Post, Trump expressed to Putin that he should refrain from intensifying military action in Ukraine, while reminding him of Washington’s sizeable military presence in Europe.
The newspaper also reported Trump wished to engage in subsequent conversations with Putin to find a resolution to the conflict.
During the presidential campaign, Trump had asserted he could end the Ukraine war “within a day” if elected, but provided no details on how he would accomplish that ambitious goal.
U.S. Military and Economic Aid to Ukraine Under Scrutiny
The United States has funneled tens of billions of dollars in military equipment and economic assistance to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. However, that steady stream of support has come under fire from Trump and some of his Republican allies, who have criticized the spending.
As president, Trump may seek to curtail U.S. funding and arms for Kyiv as he pursues direct diplomacy with Moscow in an attempt to halt the bloodshed. But any move to reduce aid to Ukraine would likely meet staunch resistance from members of both parties in Congress who remain committed to helping Kyiv defend its sovereignty against Russian aggression.
JUST IN: Kremlin denies that President-elect Trump and President Putin discussed Ukraine war in alleged phone call, dismissing media reports as "pure fiction."
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) November 11, 2024
European Leaders Still Seek “Strategic Defeat” of Russia
Meanwhile, Peskov also took aim at European leaders, accusing them of still pursuing a “strategic defeat” of Russia. The barbed remarks came in response to a question about the possibility of Britain allowing Ukraine to deploy Storm Shadow long-range missiles capable of striking inside Russian territory.
The Kremlin spokesman ominously warned that such a move by London “could not be ruled out.” The veiled threat underscores the high stakes and potential for escalation in a grinding war that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides.
Navigating a Diplomatic Tightrope
As Donald Trump prepares to assume the presidency, he will need to carefully navigate a complex geopolitical landscape shaped by the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Forging a pragmatic working relationship with Putin while maintaining pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine will require a deft diplomatic touch.
With the eyes of the world watching, any perceived tilt toward Moscow or willingness to make concessions at Kyiv’s expense would likely be met with swift backlash from U.S. allies in Europe as well as critics at home. But charting a course that avoids further entanglement while still advancing American interests will be no easy feat.
For now, the intrigue around the alleged Trump-Putin phone call offers a preview of the intense scrutiny and competing pressures the new president will face as he seeks to put his stamp on one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. The coming months could prove pivotal as the key players look to either revive the stalled peace process or resign themselves to a prolonged and bitter stalemate on the battlefields of Ukraine.
