The Kremlin claims that former US President Donald Trump did send medical equipment to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. This assertion comes despite denials from Trump’s team about any such exchange taking place. Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, confirmed that there was indeed an exchange of equipment but refuted claims of multiple phone calls between Putin and Trump after the latter’s term ended in 2021. The alleged phone calls were reported in journalist Bob Woodward’s upcoming book, “War.”
Peskov stated that while equipment was sent to the US at the beginning of the pandemic, the phone call allegations were untrue. Trump, however, flatly denied sending any equipment to Moscow when questioned by ABC News. The Kremlin’s position contradicts statements from Trump’s camp, with no concrete evidence provided to support the claim of equipment exchange. The US government and intelligence agencies have repeatedly raised concerns about Russian disinformation efforts, particularly in relation to the US election.
The Trump campaign has dismissed Woodward’s claims regarding the phone calls as fabrications. Trump’s aide, Cheung, labelled the book as ‘trash’ and mentioned ongoing legal disputes between Trump and Woodward. Woodward’s book alleges that Putin requested Covid testing equipment for personal use and urged Trump to keep the exchange confidential to avoid backlash. Putin is reported to have expressed concerns over potential public outrage if the transaction became public knowledge.
Woodward’s book, scheduled for release on October 15, does not delve deeply into the content of the alleged conversations between Trump and Putin. The book claims that Putin insisted on secrecy to protect Trump’s reputation, indicating a peculiar dynamic between the two leaders. The ongoing saga adds another layer of intrigue to the already complex relationship between the US and Russia.