Washington, Oct 09, (V7N) – Former President Donald Trump has reportedly spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin as many as seven times since leaving office, according to a new book by renowned journalist Bob Woodward. The conversations, covering a period before and after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have raised eyebrows just weeks ahead of the critical November 5 presidential election, where Trump is the Republican nominee against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
 
Secret COVID-19 Deal: Woodward’s book, War, reveals that during Trump’s presidency, he secretly sent COVID-19 testing machines to Putin, a rare resource at the time. The Russian leader, fearful of infection, reportedly requested that Trump keep the shipment a secret, to which Trump agreed.
 
Harris Reacts: Kamala Harris, on a radio show appearance, expressed her outrage, describing the move as a blatant example of Trump’s disregard for U.S. interests.
 
The 2024 Election Context:
 
The book’s revelations come at a pivotal moment, with the November election looming large. Trump’s continued engagement with Putin, a top U.S. adversary, has cast doubts over his foreign relations strategy, particularly concerning Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Since leaving office, Trump has met with international leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yet has remained vague on his position regarding Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump claims that if reelected, he would resolve the conflict in less than 24 hours, though he has offered no specifics.
 
Woodward’s book also sheds light on President Biden's concerns about Russia's aggression. In a September 2022 briefing, Biden believed there was a significant chance Putin would use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The Biden administration continues to view Putin as a grave threat to global stability.
 
Former U.S. intelligence officials have called Trump’s private communications with Putin “totally inappropriate,” particularly given Russia’s war against a U.S.-backed ally. John Bolton, Trump’s former national security advisor, dismissed the calls as a clear threat to U.S. interests, hinting that the conversations likely went far beyond casual pleasantries.
 
This latest report intensifies scrutiny of Trump’s ties with Russia as the presidential race enters its final phase. Stay tuned for updates on the developing story.
 
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