The Kremlin has issued an official response following the release of leaked audio recordings in which former President Donald Trump reportedly threatened to launch a military strike on Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine.
The comments, allegedly made during a private fundraising event in 2024, have sparked widespread international attention and prompted condemnation and clarification from Russian officials.
In the audio, obtained by journalists and detailed in the new book 2024 by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, Trump can be heard recounting a past conversation he claimed to have had with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“With Putin, I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the s*** out of Moscow,’” Trump reportedly said. “I’m telling you, I have no choice. And then [Putin] goes, like, ‘I don’t believe you.’ But he believed me 10%.”
According to CNN, the comments were made during fundraising events held in New York and Florida prior to Trump’s re-election.
Trump also allegedly referenced a similar warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping, claiming he had threatened to bomb Beijing if China moved to invade Taiwan.
Kremlin Pushes Back
On Saturday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov issued a statement dismissing the report and denying that any such conversation between Trump and Putin had taken place.
“The fact is that there were no telephone conversations then,” Peskov stated during a press briefing. “We have no records or indication of these types of statements being made in any official format.”
Peskov went on to describe the claims as “yet another example of political theater” and accused U.S. politicians of “inventing bravado for domestic gain.”
Global Reaction
The remarks, though made in private, have added new fuel to ongoing debates about Trump’s foreign policy approach and his often-personalized handling of diplomatic relations.
Critics argue that such language, even in closed-door donor events, risks destabilizing already fragile geopolitical tensions, particularly given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Foreign policy analysts are divided. Some believe Trump’s blunt talk may have served as a deterrent during his first term, while others warn it shows a dangerous lack of diplomacy.
Trump’s Track Record With Putin
Trump has long faced scrutiny over his relationship with Putin. During his first term in office, he was often criticized for his soft tone toward the Russian leader, despite implementing sanctions and expelling diplomats during periods of tension.
The alleged comments appear to contrast with that perception, portraying Trump as privately threatening military retaliation if Russia crossed red lines in Ukraine.
What’s Next?
With the 2024 book generating headlines and audio recordings circulating, the White House has yet to issue an official response to the latest revelations.
Trump’s team has neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the leaked audio, though campaign officials have downplayed the comments as “off-the-cuff remarks” not reflective of official policy.
Meanwhile, Russia appears eager to shift focus away from the claims, reiterating that “no such threats were ever communicated through official diplomatic channels.”
Whether the revelations will have any tangible impact on U.S.–Russia relations remains unclear — but with both sides digging in, the political fallout may be far from over.