Kremlin denies reports of Putin-Trump call over Ukraine conflict

The Kremlin has firmly denied a report claiming a phone call took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. president-elect Donald Trump regarding the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as “simply false information” following a Washington Post report that Trump had urged Putin to avoid escalating the war. The Post, citing anonymous sources, claimed Trump reminded Putin of the significant U.S. military presence in Europe and expressed a desire for further dialogue on ending the war soon.

Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, also refrained from confirming the call, stating, “we do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.”

As Trump prepares for his January 20 inauguration, his stance on Ukraine has become a critical issue. He has called for a swift end to the conflict and raised doubts about continued U.S. support for Kyiv. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently spoke with Trump, with Elon Musk notably joining the conversation. Trump also held discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, with both leaders agreeing to work towards peace in Europe.

Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, Biden’s administration is committed to sending as much aid to Ukraine as possible before Trump takes office. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized that the U.S. aims to strengthen Ukraine’s position both on the battlefield and at the negotiation table.

Despite Trump’s calls for peace, the Kremlin has cautiously welcomed his rhetoric. “At least he’s talking about peace, and not about confrontation,” Peskov remarked. Throughout his campaign, Trump has promised to end the war quickly, though he has yet to outline a clear strategy.

The prospect of a rapid peace deal raises concerns in Kyiv, where leaders insist on not conceding any territory to Russia. European allies, including Britain and France, have expressed unease over potential unilateral moves by Trump that could undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Both sides have continued military actions, with Russia launching a record 145 drones on Ukraine over the weekend and Ukraine claiming to have downed 34 Russian drones aimed at Moscow.

The conflict, now entering its third year, remains deeply unresolved, with the international community watching closely as Trump’s presidency looms on the horizon.