In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that there was no wait at all and the talks with the Russian president were very productive.
US President Donald Trump with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. (Photo: AP/file)
Amid talks to reach a truce between Ukraine and Russia, US President Donald Trump on Saturday lambasted reports that claimed that American Ambassador Steve Witkoff was made to wait for over nine hours by Vladimir Putin in Moscow, rejected them as "fake news" and said that the talks were very productive, while there was "no wait" whatsoever. The US President went ahead and called people peddling fake news "sick degenerates".
On Friday, Russian President Putin met with special envoy Witkoff to discuss details of the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, asking him to convey Moscow’s thoughts to Washington, according to a Kremlin official.
"The Fake News, as usual, is at it again! Why can’t they be honest, just for once? Last night I read that President Vladimir Putin of Russia kept my Highly Respected Ambassador and Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, waiting for over nine hours when, in fact, there was no wait whatsoever," Trump posted on Truth Social.
"Other meetings with other Representatives of Russia did take place and, obviously, they took some time, but they were very productive," his post read, adding that there was no wait at all.
"The only reason they made up that story is to try and DEMEAN, because they are sick degenerates, that have to start reporting the News correctly," he maintained.
The Republic president said that this is the same reason why these news media houses have lost their ratings, their audience, and respect.
"Thank you for your attention to this matter and, GOD BLESS AMERICA!," the US president concluded.
On Thursday, during talks with Wikoff, Putin asked the US envoy to convey additional messages to his American counterpart Trump, and said at a news conference that he supported a ceasefire in principle but set out a host of details that need to be clarified before it is agreed upon.
In the backdrop of the talks with US representatives, who are trying to bring Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the same page to reach a truce, the Russian president on Friday said that he will spare the lives of Ukrainian troops if they surrender. His remarks came after Trump said he had asked Putin to ensure their safety.
"In case they surrender, we guarantee we will save their lives," Putin was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters in its report.
Trump said on Friday that there was a "very good chance" the war between Russia and Ukraine could end following "productive" discussions with Putin the day before.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump had vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been going on for over three years now.
Published On:
Mar 16, 2025
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