The Kremlin on Monday declined to confirm or deny whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had recently spoken by phone with former U.S. President Donald Trump about finding a way to halt the war in Ukraine.
The ambiguous response has fueled speculation about what could be the first direct contact between the leaders of the world’s two largest nuclear powers since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, was pressed by reporters on whether such a conversation had taken place. “I cannot confirm this, nor can I deny it,” Peskov stated, offering no further clarification. His remarks followed reports suggesting that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, may have engaged in informal diplomacy regarding the ongoing conflict.
The White House has not officially commented on any potential discussions between Trump and Putin. However, a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that no formal communication had been sanctioned by the Biden administration.
“To our knowledge, no such call has taken place, at least not through official channels,” the official told reporters.
Trump has long touted his personal rapport with Putin, repeatedly claiming that had he remained in office, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would never have occurred. The former president has also hinted at having a solution to the war, asserting in recent speeches that he could end the conflict within “24 hours” if re-elected in November 2024. However, he has yet to provide concrete details on how he would achieve such an outcome.
Amid ongoing speculation, Ukrainian officials expressed skepticism over any backchannel negotiations involving Trump and Putin. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, dismissed the notion that a peace settlement could be reached without Kyiv’s involvement.
“Decisions about Ukraine cannot be made behind Ukraine’s back. Any serious discussion about ending the war must involve Kyiv as an equal participant,” Podolyak wrote on social media.
Experts on U.S.-Russia relations have mixed reactions to the mystery surrounding the alleged call. Some analysts believe that even an informal conversation between Trump and Putin could signal a potential shift in diplomatic dynamics should Trump return to the White House. Others caution that any such communication, particularly outside official government channels, could complicate U.S. foreign policy and undermine ongoing Western support for Ukraine.
“If Trump and Putin did speak, it raises serious questions about what was discussed and whether any promises were made,” said Thomas Graham, a former senior director for Russia on the U.S. National Security Council. “The Kremlin thrives on ambiguity, and their non-denial only adds to the intrigue.”
The controversy over potential Trump-Putin contacts comes as the war in Ukraine nears the two-and-a-half-year mark, with no clear resolution in sight. While Kyiv has received consistent military and financial backing from the United States and its European allies, battlefield progress has slowed, and diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked.
As speculation mounts, all eyes are on Trump, who has not yet publicly commented on whether he spoke with Putin. With the 2024 U.S. election approaching, any perceived engagement between the former president and the Russian leader is likely to fuel further debate over America’s role in the war and the future of its foreign policy toward Moscow.
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