Russian President Vladimir Putin extended congratulations to Donald Trump on his U.S. election victory, commending the former president’s “manly” handling of an attempted assassination and expressing readiness for dialogue.
“I want to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States,” Putin said on Thursday during the annual Valdai Club meeting in Sochi. He had initially refrained from publicly congratulating Trump, opting instead for a conspicuous silence.
Putin revealed that he hasn’t yet spoken with Trump following his victory, but indicated he would take the call if the U.S. president-elect reached out. He explained his own reluctance to initiate contact, noting, “There was a time when Western leaders called me almost weekly, but then they abruptly stopped. If they wish to resume contact, I’ve always been open to it.”
When asked if he was prepared to discuss issues with Trump even before his January inauguration, Putin affirmed, saying his administration is “ready, ready” to engage.
Trump previously vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict swiftly and proposed reducing U.S. aid to Ukraine—a stance Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized, saying such an approach could mean a “loss” for Kyiv. Addressing Trump’s campaign statements, Putin noted that while it remains unclear what Trump’s policies will be once in office, his stated desire to mend relations with Russia and help resolve the Ukraine crisis is “worthy of attention.”
Putin also praised Trump’s response to an assassination attempt in July, saying, “He demonstrated courage and strength,” adding, “He showed himself to be courageous, manly.”
Putin’s remarks arrive amid widespread speculation on how the new Republican administration might approach both the Ukraine conflict and relations with Russia. The Kremlin’s initial reaction to Trump’s victory was reserved, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating Tuesday that Putin had no immediate plans to contact the president-elect of what he described as an “unfriendly country involved in conflict with our state.” However, Thursday’s comments in Sochi signal Putin’s openness to building ties with Trump.
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