Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his sweeping victory in the U.S. Presidential election and expressed a willingness to work together to restore relations between the two countries. Putin congratulated Trump on his significant win and signaled his readiness to engage in rebuilding ties with the next U.S. President.
Putin highlighted the importance of addressing the ongoing conflict with Ukraine and expressed a desire to restore diplomatic relations with the United States, as Trump prepares to return to the White House as the 47th President. Praising Trump’s resilience following an assassination attempt in July during his campaign in Pennsylvania, Putin described the President-elect as a “brave man” for his response to the incident.
Putin’s remarks suggested the potential for a shift in U.S.-Russia relations under Trump’s second term. Notably, relations between the two countries have been at a historic low, especially due to U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Addressing an international forum, Putin said, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as President of the United States of America.” He added that Trump’s statements “about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, deserve attention at least.” Putin also praised Trump’s composure after the assassination attempt in July, stating, “I was impressed by Trump’s behavior during the attempt. He is brave. He handled it like a man. Not sure what he will do now.”
Regarding reports of a possible phone call between the two leaders before the January inauguration, Putin remarked, “I don’t think it’s wrong to hold a call with Trump. If world leaders seek to restore contacts, I’m not against it. We are ready to speak to Trump.” Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the U.S. on Wednesday, marking a significant comeback after his previous refusal to concede, the Capitol incident, felony convictions, and surviving two assassination attempts. Trump secured the presidency by winning all major swing states, while voting continues in two.
Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent, conceded the race and congratulated Trump. President Joe Biden also extended congratulations and invited Trump to the White House to begin the transition process.
