Putin Expresses Willingness to Talk with ‘Courageous’ Trump

The Russian leader in his first public comment on the outcome of the US polls stated that the need to restore US-Russian relations and strive to end the war in Ukraine was imperative.

Speaking at a policy forum in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday, Putin stated this. Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on winning the US election, saying that he was ready to speak with the "courageous" incoming US President.

Wrapping up a long speech, Putin took questions, saying he wanted to "take this opportunity to congratulate (Trump) on his election as President of the United States."

Asked if he was prepared to discuss a wide range of issues with Trump, Putin said: "We are ready."

He said he "didn't know" what would come of Trump's promise to negotiate a quick end to the war in Ukraine, but he suggested the US President-elect's proposals are worth studying.
The Kremlin leader also said he was impressed by how Trump handled himself during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this year.
"He turned out to be a courageous person," Putin said.

"People show who they are in extraordinary circumstances. This is where a person reveals himself. And he showed himself, in my opinion, in a very correct manner, courageously. Like a man," he added.

His first public comment on the outcome of the US polls, Russian leader on Thursday underlined the need to restore US-Russia relations and work towards ending the war in Ukraine.

After being dragged to the ground by US Secret Service agents when a gunman opened fire as he was speaking at an outdoor rally, Trump stood up and, pumping his fist in the air, yelled: "Fight! Fight! Fight!" It became a rallying cry at his rallies in his successful campaign to return to the presidency.

Trump has denounced the scale of US assistance to Ukraine -- over $100 billion since Russia invaded in 2022 -- and translated that into fears in Kyiv and the European Union that Trump is willing to accept peace on largely Moscow's terms.
Putin further accused that the political forces of Washington had prevented him from carrying out his promises of holding on to further ties with Moscow during his previous term.