Key Factors
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his US election win.
- Putin mentioned Trump had acted “courageously” after an assassination try earlier this 12 months.
- Trump claimed final 12 months that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wouldn’t have occurred if he had been president on the time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on , praised him for exhibiting braveness when a gunman tried to assassinate him, and mentioned Moscow was prepared for dialogue with the Republican president-elect.
In his first public remarks since Trump’s win, Putin mentioned on Thursday (native time) that Trump had acted like a “actual man” throughout an whereas talking at a marketing campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on 14 July.
“He behaved, in my view, in a really right method, courageously, like an actual man,” Putin mentioned on the Valdai dialogue membership within the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
“I take this chance to congratulate him on his election.”
Putin added that Trump had been “hounded by all sides” within the tumultuous presidential election marketing campaign however mentioned Trump’s remarks about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia deserved consideration.
“What was mentioned in regards to the need to revive relations with Russia, to convey in regards to the finish of the Ukrainian disaster, in my view, this deserves consideration at the least,” mentioned Putin.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Since then, the US has supplied US$64 billion ($96 billion) in navy help, and US President Joe Biden has referred to as Putin a “murderous dictator” and a “thug”.
Donald Trump shakes arms with Vladimir Putin in 2019. Supply: AAP / Susan Walsh/AP
Trump mentioned throughout campaigning final 12 months that Putin would by no means have invaded Ukraine if he had been president on the time, and insisted he may convey peace in Ukraine inside 24 hours if he have been elected.
Trump has given few particulars on how he would search to finish the largest land struggle in Europe since World Conflict Two.
Throughout his speech, Putin gave only one observe of warning: “I have no idea what will occur now. I’ve no clue.”
When pressed by a questioner what he would do if Trump referred to as to recommend a gathering, Putin mentioned he was able to resume contact if the Trump administration needed to and was prepared for dialogue with Trump.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Thursday that Russia’s management remembered Trump’s phrases about attempting to resolve the Ukraine disaster even when he exaggerated the velocity at which he may do it.
Requested about Kamala Harris’s warning that Putin would eat Trump for lunch, Peskov mentioned with a chuckle: “Putin doesn’t eat individuals.”
Zelenskyy congratulates Trump on win
Earlier within the week, following Trump’s election win, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he “admire[d] President Trump’s dedication to the ‘peace by way of energy’ method in international affairs”.
“That is precisely the precept that may virtually convey simply peace in Ukraine nearer,” he mentioned.
