Trump and Putin's secret chats fueled by Woodward's revelations
Donald Trump secretly contacted Russian President Vladimir Putin several times after the end of his presidency, according to CNN. The information comes from excerpts from a new book by journalist Bob Woodward, known for uncovering the Watergate scandal. The book also includes details about the high risk of nuclear weapon use by Russia in 2022.
4:54 PM EDT, October 8, 2024
After leaving the White House, CNN revealed that Donald Trump had several conversations with Vladimir Putin. These sensational reports come from Bob Woodward's new book, "War". According to CNN, Woodward details the behind-the-scenes of key events, such as the war in Ukraine, actions in the Gaza Strip, and Donald Trump's secret contacts with Vladimir Putin—both during his presidency and afterward.
In the book, the journalist wrote that both politicians "remained in contact" despite the end of Trump's term. The former president's advisors indicated that there were "up to seven conversations." In his book, Woodward describes an instance in which Trump allegedly asked his advisors to leave the room so he could have a "private conversation" with Putin.
Jason Miller, a Trump advisor, told CNN that he was unaware of such contacts. Uncertainty on this issue was also highlighted by U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, who said when asked about the conversations, "she would not claim to be aware of all the contacts with Putin" and that she is unable to identify "what President Trump could or could not have done."
During his presidency, Trump is said to have secretly sent Putin coronavirus test machines for his personal use. Putin reportedly asked Trump to keep the gift a secret because "people would be mad at him (Trump)."
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung responded to these revelations on Tuesday. "None of Bob Woodward's fabricated stories is true," the spokesman said in a statement, calling them the result of a genuinely delusional and deranged man.
The risk of nuclear weapon use by Russia
According to CNN, the most distressing element of Woodward's book is the American intelligence service estimates, stating that in September 2022, the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons was as high as 50 percent. At that time, Ukrainian forces successfully carried out a counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region.
A report from the intelligence services, containing a "deeply troubling assessment" of Putin's behavior, reached President Joe Biden's desk. The document, considered "excellent" in credibility, indicated that Putin was so desperate about the situation on the front that he might reach for tactical nuclear weapons. Previous intelligence estimates placed the probability of using such weapons at 5-10 percent.
Bob Woodward's book also confirms that U.S. intelligence services had access to detailed information about the Russian invasion plans of Ukraine. According to sources, there was a U.S. agent operating at the Kremlin, thanks to whom Americans were able to predict Putin's moves with high accuracy. The information was supposed to form the basis for Biden's conversations with Putin before the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine.
During one of the phone calls between Biden and Putin before the invasion, the atmosphere was so tense that Putin allegedly issued a threat to use nuclear weapons against the U.S. Biden is said to have firmly responded that "such a war is impossible to win."
Tense relations between Biden, Putin, and Netanyahu
The behind-the-scenes rivalry between Biden and Putin is not the only thread of international relations covered by Woodward. The book contains details of President Biden's conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about operations in the Gaza Strip. During one of the conversations, the U.S. president reportedly criticized Netanyahu, saying that he "has no strategy." In relation to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah leaders, Biden reportedly lost patience, yelled at Netanyahu, and privately called him a "damn liar."
