On Monday, the Kremlin denied reports that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both The Washington Post and Reuters had reported that the two leaders had a phone call, during which Trump allegedly asked Putin to avoid escalating the war in Ukraine. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed these reports, calling them "completely false" and "pure fiction," and confirmed that "no such conversation" took place.
Peskov criticized the media, stating that even well-known outlets sometimes publish unverified information. When asked if there were plans for a future call between Putin and Trump, Peskov said there were "no specific plans at the moment."
The war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has reached a critical stage, with Russian forces making significant advances. This has led Western nations to consider how to bring the conflict to an end. During his campaign, Trump claimed he could resolve the Ukraine crisis within 24 hours if elected, though he didn’t explain how he would achieve this.
Last Thursday, Putin congratulated Trump and praised him for his resilience following an alleged assassination attempt. Putin also expressed Russia's willingness to engage in dialogue with the U.S. under Trump’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Russia has warned the U.S. and its allies against allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied missiles to strike deep into Russian territory, calling such actions a major escalation. Putin previously stated that if NATO countries were involved in these strikes, it would mark their direct participation in the war.
The Kremlin noted the nervous reactions of European leaders to Trump's election but pointed out that they continue to supply Ukraine with weapons to prolong the conflict.
Reports suggest that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been urging U.S. President Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to launch long-range missile strikes into Russia. Peskov responded, saying, "Nothing can be ruled out."
Peskov reiterated that Russia would continue its "special military operation" until it achieved its objectives, stating that no single weapon could alter the course of the conflict.
The war began in 2022 when Russia sent troops into Ukraine after years of tension in the eastern region. Putin portrays the conflict as a battle between Russia and the West, accusing Western countries of ignoring Russia’s concerns since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, Ukraine and its allies see Russia's actions as an imperialistic attack on a smaller neighbor, warning that a Russian victory could embolden authoritarian regimes worldwide.
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