Kremlin Addresses Claims of Trump-Putin Telephone Conversation During Ukraine Crisis
Russian officials neither affirm nor reject claims of dialogue between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin concerning the current conflict in Ukraine.
The Kremlin has officially chosen not to confirm or deny reports regarding a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This follows a report from the New York Post on Saturday, which alleged that Trump mentioned he had spoken with Putin to talk about efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
According to the report, Trump indicated that Putin conveyed his wish to see an end to the loss of life in the area.
In comments made to the TASS state news agency, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested he could not confirm the alleged phone call, implying he was not aware of its occurrence.
"What can I say about this news item? As the administration in Washington intensifies its activities, various communications emerge. These communications occur through diverse channels," Peskov remarked.
He further explained that due to the multitude of communications happening, it is possible for him to miss certain discussions.
Peskov has previously rejected claims regarding communications between Trump and Putin during Trump’s last presidential term.
The Kremlin has also stated that it is waiting for "signals" concerning a potential in-person meeting between Trump and Putin, pointing out that no representatives from Trump's new administration have reached out to arrange such a meeting.
Since Trump took office, official communication channels between Washington and Moscow have largely remained subdued in terms of direct dialogue between the two leaders.