The Kremlin on Friday denied claims that United States President Donald Trump was advised by his aides not to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin until a ceasefire in Ukraine is achieved. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeled the NBC News report as “fake,” adding that it is part of a growing trend of misinformation. “Right now, many different fakes, rumors, speculations, and outright lies are being published in the media,” he said during a press briefing.

When asked about any potential communications between the two leaders, Peskov stated that there are currently no phone calls scheduled. “There are no plans for the coming days,” he confirmed. He also noted that discussions on strategic stability and arms control between Moscow and Washington have not yet taken place, signaling a pause in high-level diplomatic engagement.

In a separate press appearance, Peskov addressed the economic impact of the United States' newly imposed reciprocal tariffs. He stated that it is “unlikely” Russia will benefit from the measures. “The global economy is reacting to these decisions very, very emotionally,” he observed. “We see a fairly high level of turbulence in international markets, and now, of course, the global economy is in turmoil.”

Peskov emphasized that the Kremlin is closely monitoring the evolving economic situation and is hearing “very unfavorable forecasts” from various economists. He hinted that Moscow may need to take additional steps to reduce the negative impact on the Russian economy, although he did not specify what those measures might be.

As tensions persist both politically and economically, the Kremlin’s remarks underline its concern over strained US-Russia relations and the broader instability caused by tariff-driven market disruptions. With no direct dialogue planned between the two presidents and the absence of progress on major strategic topics, the outlook for improved bilateral relations remains uncertain.