Putin congratulates Trump, signals openness to renew US-Russia dialogue

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, has extended his congratulations to Donald Trump following the latter’s victory in the United States presidential election.

Signalling Moscow’s willingness for renewed dialogue with Washington, Putin emphasised his readiness for discussions with the Republican president-elect, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

In his initial public comments since Trump’s election win, Putin lauded Trump’s fortitude during an assassination attempt that took place at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 14. Speaking at the Valdai discussion club, an international forum held in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, the Russian leader said, “He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way – courageously, like a real man.”

Putin, 72, affirmed his openness to engagement when asked about potential talks with Trump, simply stating, “Ready.”

The Russian president also addressed Trump’s prior statements regarding US-Russia relations, noting, “His comments about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, deserve attention at least.”

President-elect Trump, in a recent interview, confirmed he had yet to make contact with Putin following his electoral success. 

“I think we will speak,” he commented, acknowledging the absence of direct communication so far. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has taken a measured approach, welcoming Trump’s assertion that he could resolve the Ukrainian conflict within 24 hours but indicating a wait-and-see stance until tangible policy steps are evident.

Notably, during his campaign, Trump had made bold claims that he could bring peace to Ukraine within a single day if elected. However, he has offered scant details on how he would approach ending the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.

Reflecting on the potential implications of Trump’s return to the White House, Putin admitted, “I don’t know what will happen now. I have no idea.” He added, “For him, this is still his last presidential term. What he will do is his matter.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed these sentiments, recalling Trump’s promises related to resolving the war in Ukraine. However, he noted that the timeline suggested by Trump may have been overly optimistic, remarking that the incoming president “exaggerated” the speed with which peace could be achieved.

By Aghakazim Guliyev