Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, emphasized his openness to discussing the Ukraine issue with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. According to TASS and RIA Novosti on the 20th (local time), President Putin expressed his congratulations on Trump’s inauguration during a video conference at the Russian National Security Council.
The meeting took place just hours before Trump’s inauguration ceremony. President Putin instructed Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to report on the U.S. situation and noted, “I understand that today is the inauguration of the newly elected president.”
President Putin stated, “We have observed that the newly elected U.S. president and his team wish to restore direct contact with Russia, which was interrupted not by our fault, but by the outgoing U.S. government. We welcome such a stance, especially their remarks about doing everything possible to prevent a third world war.”
He added, “We have never refused dialogue with the U.S. government and are always ready to maintain equal relations and cooperation with any U.S. administration.”
President Putin also claimed that he could discuss nuclear issues with President-elect Trump. He stated, “We believe the dialogue will be based on equality and mutual respect, considering the important role both countries play in enhancing strategic stability and security on several key global issues.”
President Putin evaluated that President-elect Trump went through difficult times, facing severe pressure before the election, and noted, “He showed courage and achieved a convincing victory in the election.”
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Lavrov mentioned that Russia is ready to engage with leaders of Western countries, including the Trump administration, and stated that many issues, including the current Ukrainian conflict, depend on the U.S.