Reports of Putin-Trump Contact Draw Kremlin Response

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's Press Secretary, has stated that communications between Moscow and Washington are being conducted through various channels, Orda.kz reports.

This statement comes after The New York Post reported that Trump had mentioned discussing the war against Ukraine with Putin over the phone.

Responding to TASS's inquiry about whether a phone conversation between Putin and Trump had taken place following the American leader's inauguration, Peskov said:

Regarding this news: as the administration in Washington develops its work, many different communications emerge. These communications occur through various channels. And naturally, given the multiplicity of these communications, I personally might not be aware of everything. Therefore, in this case, I can neither confirm nor deny this.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his willingness to speak with Putin. 

According to the Kremlin's website, the last documented conversation between Putin and Trump took place on July 23, 2020.

On February 7, the Kremlin's spokesperson indicated they would inform about the organization of contacts as information becomes available.

Trump has claimed he could end the conflict "within 24 hours of taking office."

Before his inauguration, Donald Trump instructed his team to prepare for a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Friday, February 7, the U.S. President announced plans to speak with Zelenskyy in the coming week.

On February 9, President Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz, while declining to comment on the details of Trump's call with Putin, outlined plans to "recoup" U.S. military aid costs through partnerships focusing on Ukraine's natural resources, including rare earth minerals, oil, and gas reserves.

He emphasized that post-conflict security guarantees would primarily be a European responsibility, stating that European nations would "have to own this conflict."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed openness to negotiations with Vladimir Putin in an interview with ITV News on February 7. 

However, he emphasized that such talks would only be possible if "America and Europe don't abandon" Ukraine. Zelenskyy suggested that the war could end in 2025, noting that necessary conditions exist for this outcome.

He acknowledged Trump's desire for a swift conflict resolution while emphasizing the importance of preventing future Russian military actions.

Original Author: Rimma Karatayeva