Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, calling him a “brave man”.
Talking at an occasion within the Russian metropolis of Sochi, the Russian president stated that Trump was “hounded from all sides” throughout his first time period within the White Home.
Putin additionally stated that Trump’s declare that he might help finish the conflict in Ukraine “deserves consideration not less than”.
Throughout his marketing campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly stated he may finish the conflict “in a day” however has by no means elaborated on how that might occur.
Throughout Putin’s deal with, which lasted a number of hours and lined a variety of matters, he additionally spoke of the assassination try on Donald Trump in July, saying it “made an impression” on him.
After being shot, Trump punched his fist into the air and mouthed the phrases “combat, combat, combat”, earlier than being hauled away by Secret Service brokers.
“He behaved, in my view, in a really appropriate method, courageously, like a person,” Putin stated.
Requested if he was able to have discussions with Donald Trump, Putin replied: “We’re prepared, we’re prepared.”
Trump had already stated on Thursday that he was ready to talk with Putin, telling NBC Information: “I believe we’ll communicate”.
The Kremlin was extensively accused of interfering within the 2016 presidential election to spice up Donald Trump’s marketing campaign towards Hilary Clinton, claims rejected by Moscow.
US Particular Counsel Robert Mueller investigated allegations of collusion between Trump’s marketing campaign and Russia in 2016, however stated in a report three years later that had discovered no proof of conspiracy.
Elsewhere on Thursday, leaders gathering for the European Political Neighborhood in Budapest mentioned Trump’s return to the White Home.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he had a “very heat” and “productive dialog” with the president-elect.
“However we’ve to do every little thing to make sure that the outcomes of our interplay between Ukraine and America, the entire of Europe and America, are productive and constructive,” he added.
Many in Ukraine and Europe are fearful that Trump may sluggish, if not halt, the circulation of American army support to Kyiv upon taking energy in January.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer assured Zelensky on the summit that the UK’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia remains “iron-clad”.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – who beforehand stated he celebrated Trump’s win by “tapping into the vodka provide fortunately” – stated the US and Europe now face powerful talks on commerce.
Orban, who’s a detailed ally of Trump, advised a press convention that “the commerce challenge with the US will come up and it’ll not be simple”.
Earlier than successful the election, Trump stated he would impose tariffs of 10% on all imports.
“There was an settlement that Europe ought to assume higher accountability for its personal peace and safety sooner or later. To place it much more bluntly, we can’t count on Individuals to be the one ones to maintain us,” Orban stated.