Press reveals Trump-Putin's unexpected conversation
During a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on July 7, 2017 in Hamburg, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump asked Putin what he thought about military assistance to Ukraine, the New York Times wrote.
“Trump told Putin that his government was considering supplying weapons to Ukraine and asked: “What do you think?” Putin replied that it would be “a mistake”. Putin said that no matter what the US gives Ukraine, they will ask for more,” the publication reported. The newspaper noted that the former White House leader listened and did not object.
The Russian and US leaders discussed Ukraine in their first phone call on January 28, 2017, the newspaper recalled. According to a former senior US official, Trump was the first to raise the issue, asking Putin's opinion on Ukraine. The Russian president began talking about corruption in the country, to which Trump responded cautiously - not agreeing with his interlocutor, but not defending Ukraine either. At the same time, he admitted that the discord between Moscow and Kiev is preventing the United States from improving relations with Russia.
During the pre-election debate on June 27, the former White House owner promised to reach a solution to the conflict as soon as he was re-elected and before the inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025. At the same time, Trump emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine “would never have happened” if Russia had respected the US President./.
