Moscow: President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, extended his congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on the recent victory of the Republican candidate in the United States election. He also conveyed his readiness for engaging in dialogue with the newly elected Republican President.
President Trump, who engaged in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has expressed his ambition to conclude Russia's conflict in Ukraine within hours and has voiced criticism towards the United States' support for Ukraine.
Concerning his interactions with Trump, Putin made his first public statements following Trump's election victory, emphasizing Trump's statements during the US election campaign regarding Ukraine and the restoration of relations between the two countries.
"The desire to restore relations with Russia and to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, in my view, merits attention," Putin stated.
"I wish to extend my congratulations to him," Putin added during his address at the Valdai Forum in Sochi, a southern Russian city.
When queried about his openness to initiating discussions with Trump, Putin responded affirmatively, stating, "I am prepared."
Furthermore, Putin commended Trump, noting that the former president demonstrated "real manliness" during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July.
President Trump has indicated his willingness to engage in some form of conversation, stating in an interview with NBC News that "I think we'll speak."
The 78-year-old leader has reported having conversations with "probably" 70 world leaders since the morning of Wednesday. However, he disclosed that he had not yet engaged in discussions with President Putin.
A publication by US investigative reporter Bob Woodward suggests that Trump and Putin may have had up to seven conversations during the tenure of President Joe Biden.
President Trump has consistently shown admiration for Putin, along with other authoritarian leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described his recent conversation with President Donald Trump as "excellent," following Trump's threats to halt the continuous provision of American aid to Ukraine in its battle against Russia's invasion, which has spanned nearly three years.
"I expressed my appreciation for the exceptional work being done by his family and team," Zelenskyy stated. "We concurred on the importance of maintaining a robust dialogue and furthering our collaboration. It is imperative for the global community and the pursuit of a just peace that the United States continues to demonstrate strong and consistent leadership."
Ukraine is in a critical position, seeking to bolster its support from European allies in the face of uncertainty regarding future American aid following Trump's election.
During a summit with European leaders in Hungary, Zelenskyy articulated that it would be "unacceptable" for Europe to offer any concessions to the Russian government in exchange for halting its invasion of Ukraine.
He voiced his opposition to those advocating for concessions to Putin's demands, including territorial concessions in Ukraine's eastern and southern regions, in exchange for peace negotiations.
"There has been considerable discussion regarding the necessity of yielding to Putin, of compromising, of making concessions," Zelenskyy stated. "Such actions are not only unacceptable for Ukraine but also for the entire European Union."
