The Kremlin on Sunday declined to confirm or deny a U.S. report of a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The New York Post late Saturday reported that Trump told the publication he had spoken on the phone to Putin to discuss bringing an end to the conflict with Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS state news agency that he could not confirm or deny a conversation took place, adding that he was unaware of any such call.
“What can be said about this news: as the administration in Washington unfolds its work, many different communications arise. These communications are conducted through different channels. And of course, amid the multiplicity of these communications, I personally may not know something, be unaware of something. Therefore, in this case, I can neither confirm nor deny it.”
According to TASS, Trump has expressed his desire and readiness to talk with Putin many times in recent weeks. However, no official reports of any contacts have been made.
The Kremlin has previously said it is awaiting “signals” on a possible meeting between Trump and Putin and that no one in Trump’s new administration has been in touch about setting one up.
Meanwhile, the head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Leonid Slutsky, said that work on preparing such contacts “is at an advanced stage.”
