The US president has denied reports claiming that he would travel to Russia for May 9
US President Donald Trump has denied rumors that he is planning to attend the annual World War II victory parade in Moscow. His statement came as the US and Russia have restarted direct talks about bringing an end to the Ukraine conflict.
According to The Times, when asked on Friday about whether he’d make the trip, Trump told reporters: “No, no I’m not.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also denied plans for such a meeting.
Speculations about the potential visit flared after French magazine Le Point cited sources as claiming that Trump would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 9.
Heads of state, diplomats, and other foreign dignitaries often visit Moscow for the May 9 celebrations, where they watch the large military parade in Red Square and lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin wall. The last American president to participate in the commemoration was George W. Bush, who attended the 60th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in 2005.
When asked about the possibility of a Trump visit earlier this month, Peskov said that Putin “would be happy” to see different world leaders in Moscow.
Trump and Putin spoke over the phone on February 12, paving the way for the US-Russian talks in Riyadh which took place on Tuesday. Ukrainian and EU officials have criticized Trump for completely reversing the policies of the Biden administration, which led a campaign to isolate Moscow on the world stage.
The public spat between Kiev and Washington escalated further this week when Trump called Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky “a dictator without elections” and insisted that he was in no position to complain about being sidelined during the talks with Russia.
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