The Kremlin on Monday dismissed reports that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had recently spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin as "pure fiction." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that no such call had occurred, labeling the reports as "completely untrue" and criticizing the quality of information being published by some reputable outlets. Peskov also said there were no concrete plans for any contact between Putin and Trump.

The speculation arose from a report claiming Trump had urged Putin not to escalate the Ukraine war. Steven Cheung, Trump's communications director, declined to comment on the matter, maintaining silence on private calls. Trump, set to assume office on January 20, has consistently criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine and promised to end the war quickly, which has drawn both support and skepticism.

President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has invited Trump to the Oval Office for discussions about the transition of power, including topics like Ukraine. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized Biden’s commitment to ensuring ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine and stability in Europe, advocating for continued funding even beyond Biden’s term. Sullivan noted Biden would push Congress to sustain aid.

Trump has previously suggested Ukraine may need to cede territory for peace, a stance Kyiv rejects. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated he had no knowledge of Trump’s proposed peace plans but expressed concern that a rapid end to the war might require significant concessions from Ukraine.

The U.S. has provided over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine under Biden, but the pace of funding is expected to decrease under a Trump administration. With Republicans set to take control of the Senate and potentially the House, the future of U.S. support for Ukraine could shift significantly, especially given the criticism from key Republican figures over current levels of aid.