The New York Times reported on Oct. 8 that former U.S. president Donald Trump had secretly spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin up to seven times after leaving office. The NYT cited a book written by journalist Bob Woodward.
According to Woodward’s newest book “War,” they may have spoken another half dozen times after Trump left the White House, according to the unnamed aide.
Putin and Trump spoke allegedly as Trump was reportedly pressing Republicans to block the $60 Billion Aid Package for Kyiv.
Trump’s views about Ukraine are causing concern in Ukraine’s partner nations, as the former president seeks reelection this November. This has sparked fears that he may cut military support to Ukraine as it struggles to hold its line against intense Russian attacks.
The book claims that in early 2024 Trump sent an aide from his office at Mar-a-Lago to make a call to Putin.
Trump allegedly also secretly sent Putin COVID-19 testing devices for his personal use when the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020. The NYT reported that during a phone call with Trump, the Russian President asked his U.S. counter-part not to disclose this information publicly.
According to the book, Putin told Trump: “I don’t think you should tell anyone because they will be mad at you and not me.”
Putin reportedly reduced his personal contact after the outbreak, and many people he met were reportedly forced to quarantine. The Russian president claimed to have been vaccinated without specifying which vaccine.
The Trump campaign denied these reports, calling them “fabricated.”
The NYT reported in October that Trump had asked Putin for his advice when deciding whether to send weapons to Ukraine during the early part of his presidency in 2017.
The ex-president promised to end the war in a day, if he were elected. However, he has not revealed publicly how he intends to do so. According to reports, one plan involves Kyiv ceding land to Russia.
In an interview broadcast on Oct. 7, Kamala Harris said that if elected, she would not engage in peace negotiations with Putin without Ukraine’s participation.
Trump met Zelensky at the end September during Zelensky’s visit to America, where he bragged about his “good relationship” both with the Ukrainian and Russian Presidents.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com