Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his U.S. election win and praised him for his response to an assassination attempt during a campaign rally. Putin expressed readiness for dialogue with the president-elect and commended Trump’s statements about Ukraine and improving relations with Russia. However, he also expressed caution about the future and stated that he has no clue about what will happen next.
Despite allegations of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia, investigations by Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence of conspiracy. Both Russia and Trump have denied claims of Russian interference in U.S. elections. Putin addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and laid out his terms for ending the war, emphasizing Ukraine’s need to drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw troops from disputed regions.
In a lengthy speech, Putin criticized Western leaders for what he called “adventurism” in Ukraine and emphasized that Russia is open to negotiations based on mutual interests. He also mentioned that China is Russia’s ally. When asked about comments by Kamala Harris suggesting Putin would “eat Trump for lunch,” a Kremlin spokesman jokingly stated that Putin does not eat people. Putin’s remarks at the Valdai discussion club in Sochi covered a range of topics, from diplomatic relations to the conflict in Ukraine, demonstrating a mix of cautious optimism and assertive diplomacy.
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