The Kremlin has rejected media reports suggesting that US President-elect Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he allegedly warned Putin about escalating the war in Ukraine. The call, which was first reported by the Washington Post on Sunday, was said to have occurred on Thursday.

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During the reported conversation, Trump is believed to have mentioned the significant military presence of the US in Europe. However, the Kremlin swiftly denied the existence of such a conversation, labeling the claims as "pure fiction.

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" Trump’s team, when contacted by the BBC, declined to comment on the matter, with communications director Steven Cheung stating, "We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders."He did, however, confirm that leaders have started reaching out to the president-elect.

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Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, reiterated the denial, describing the reports as “completely untrue” and “false information.”"This is completely untrue, it is pure fiction. That is, this is simply false information. There was no conversation," Peskov said.While Trump has repeatedly stated his commitment to ending the conflict in Ukraine, he has not yet outlined a clear strategy.

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Bryan Lanza, a former adviser to Trump’s campaign, suggested over the weekend that the incoming administration would focus on achieving peace in Ukraine, rather than solely aiming to reclaim occupied territories. A spokesperson for Trump distanced the president-elect from these remarks, clarifying that Lanza “does not speak for him.

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”Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned against any territorial concessions to Russia, stressing that without US support, Ukraine would be unable to win the war.On the other hand, Dmitry Peskov spoke of “positive” signals from the new US administration. In contrast, other international figures, including British Defence Secretary John Healey, are confident that the US will continue to support Ukraine.

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"This is a warning for the ones who say, this war has to end, so let's finish it as soon as possible no matter how. How matters," he said.Healey expressed his expectation that the US would stay alongside its allies, particularly the UK, “for as long as it takes to prevail over Putin’s invasion.”During a visit to Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell cautioned that any peace settlement must be sustainable.

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He warned against those pushing for an immediate end to the war without considering the long-term implications, emphasizing that “how” peace is achieved matters.In Washington, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that President Joe Biden would stress to Trump that walking away from Ukraine would lead to increased instability in Europe.

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In Germany, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock raised concerns that Putin could exploit the US transition period to gain an upper hand in Ukraine. She urged European Union members to boost their support for Ukraine immediately, asserting, “We don’t have time to wait until spring.”The war continues to escalate, with Russia and Ukraine launching their largest drone attacks since the conflict began.

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Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed it intercepted 84 Ukrainian drones over six regions, including some approaching Moscow, leading to airport diversions. Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down most of the 145 Russian drones launched on Saturday night.On Monday, Russia’s airstrikes killed at least six people and injured 21 others in Ukraine.

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Zelensky condemned the strikes, criticizing Russia for targeting civilians and calling for stronger global support to counter the aggression.Russian forces have also made territorial advances. Moscow’s Ministry of Defence reported capturing the village of Kolisnykivka in the Kharkiv region. According to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, Russian territorial gains in October were the largest since March 2022.

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