Kremlin denies Trump and Putin discussing Ukraine call; Biden to urge president-elect to stand by Kyiv

November 11, 2024 TruthUSA

The Kremlin has denied that Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin in a phone call the day after the presidential election.

Reportedly, the US president-elect urged the Russian president not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of America’s sizeable military presence in Europe during the conversation on Thursday, as per The Washington Post and Reuters, citing sources familiar with the call.

It is said that the two also discussed peace on the continent and the possibility of resolving the conflict in Ukraine through a further call in the near future.

Follow live: Putin has no plans to speak to Trump

However, the Kremlin denied these reports on Monday, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that Mr. Putin currently has no specific plans to speak to Mr. Trump.

“This is completely false. It’s pure fiction and misinformation,” Peskov emphasized. “There was no such conversation.”

When asked about any potential contact between Putin and Trump, Peskov mentioned, “There are no concrete plans at the moment.”

The Kremlin did indicate last week that Mr. Putin was open to discussing Ukraine with Mr. Trump but with Moscow’s conditions intact, such as Ukraine abstaining from joining NATO and relinquishing the territories currently held by Russia.

The Washington Post also reported that the Ukrainian government was informed of the call between Trump and Putin and did not object to it.

We simply do not know what Trump’s policy on Ukraine will be

If the reports of this call are accurate – where Trump urged Putin to avoid escalating the conflict – it diverges from the pro-Russia stance Ukraine anticipated.

However, it remains uncertain if this will allay concerns about potential cuts to US military aid and pressure for a peace deal.

This contact between the US president-elect and the Russian president sparks anxiety in Kyiv and other European capitals about the evolving relationship between the two leaders.

Given their previous interactions and the fears of a similar dynamic repeating, the situation is tense.

While the Kremlin denies the call took place, they previously said Putin had no intention of congratulating Trump, only to do so later while praising his courage.

In essence, uncertainty lingers as Moscow, Kyiv, London, and others are unsure of Trump’s actual policy on Ukraine, despite his promises to swiftly end the conflict without detailing the method or outcome of peace.

A charm offensive seems to be ongoing from both sides, with Kyiv and its allies advocating for their cause and Moscow appealing to Trump’s negotiating skills for a peace deal on its terms.

Nevertheless, Ukraine’s foreign ministry vehemently denied endorsing such a call and dismissed reports suggesting otherwise as “false.”

Regarding the call, Mr. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, stated, “We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.”

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, who will hand over power on 20 January, will caution Mr. Trump and Congress against abandoning Ukraine, according to one of the president’s senior officials.

The president-elect and outgoing president are scheduled to meet on Wednesday in the Oval Office, following Mr. Trump’s victory over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the election.

In an interview with CBS News, national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated, “President Biden will have the chance over the next 70 days to advocate to Congress and the incoming administration that the United States should not turn its back on Ukraine, as doing so could lead to increased instability in Europe.”

During Mr. Biden’s administration, Washington has provided substantial military and economic aid to Ukraine, a move criticized by Mr. Trump and some of his supporters.

Mr. Trump previously claimed that if he were in the White House, Putin wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine and asserted he could end the war swiftly if re-elected.

On Sunday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for a combination of strength and diplomacy to end the two-and-a-half-year war.

He stated, “We recognize that diplomatic efforts coupled with strength are crucial. Without clear diplomatic objectives, weapons alone cannot succeed. Therefore, strength and diplomacy must work hand in hand.”

As both Russia and Ukraine launched “record” drone attacks on each other overnight on Saturday, injuring a woman and temporarily halting air traffic at some of Russia’s busiest airports.

According to Ukraine, 145 drones were launched by Russia overnight, with 62 being shot down, as both countries engaged in drone attacks against each other.

Russia’s defense ministry reported 70 drones shot down in its airspace, including 34 around Moscow’s outskirts.

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