Lagatar24 Desk
Moscow: The Kremlin today refuted claims of a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump, calling it “completely false.” This comes after a report from The Washington Post alleged that the two leaders discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed the media, stating, “This is completely false information,” and emphasized that no such phone conversation took place between the two leaders.
According to The Washington Post, which cited unnamed sources, the alleged phone call took place last Thursday from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, following a conversation between Trump, his close aide Elon Musk, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The report claimed that Trump had reminded Putin of America’s significant military footprint in Europe and expressed an interest in future discussions about resolving the Ukraine war.
Trump’s Interaction with Ukraine’s Zelensky
President-elect Trump’s post-election activities included a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In his victory speech, Trump declared, “I will not start wars, I will help end them,” signaling his administration’s intention to pursue peace. Zelensky confirmed the conversation, posting on social media, “I had an excellent call with President Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory.”
Elon Musk, who was present at Mar-a-Lago, reportedly joined the call, underscoring his potential role in Trump’s upcoming administration. Reports from Axios indicated that Musk’s involvement came as a surprise, yet Zelensky seemed reassured by the conversation.
Elon Musk’s Involvement and Support for Ukraine
The reported 30-minute call saw Musk reaffirming his commitment to aiding Ukraine through the Starlink satellite system. Since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022, Starlink has been a vital asset for Ukraine, facilitating real-time battlefield communications where mobile networks were compromised.
In September, Trump and Zelensky met at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Trump reportedly assured the Ukrainian leader, “I promise you will be happy with me,” hinting at potential diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Divergent Demands from Russia and Ukraine
President Putin has maintained that any peace negotiations must include Ukraine ceding territory in its eastern and southern regions—terms that President Zelensky firmly opposes. Zelensky has reiterated that yielding land would embolden Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, outgoing US President Joe Biden’s administration confirmed ongoing military and financial support for Ukraine. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized using the remaining $6 billion in aid to fortify Ukraine’s position both on the battlefield and at future peace negotiations.
