Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to negotiate with former US President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This comes after Trump reportedly urged Putin to end the war swiftly or face “high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions.”
In his first public remarks since Trump’s warning, Putin told a Russian state TV journalist that Russia is open to dialogue with the former US president. “We believe the current president’s statements about his readiness to work together. We are always open to this and ready for negotiations,” Putin said.
The Russian leader suggested that a direct meeting with Trump would be beneficial, adding, “It would be better for us to meet, based on the realities of today, to talk calmly.”
Putin described his relationship with Trump as “businesslike, pragmatic, and trustworthy.” He further praised Trump, saying, “He is not only a smart person but a pragmatic person. I have a hard time imagining there will be decisions taken that are detrimental to the American economy.”
Addressing the complexities of negotiating with Ukraine, Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pointing out that Zelenskyy had signed a decree preventing talks with Russia. “Negotiating with Ukraine is complicated by the fact that its president has essentially blocked any possibility of dialogue,” Putin remarked.
In a controversial statement, Putin suggested that the war in Ukraine could have been avoided had Trump remained in office after the 2020 US presidential election. “I cannot but agree with him that if he had been president, if his victory had not been stolen from him in 2020, then perhaps there would not have been the crisis in Ukraine that arose in 2022,” Putin said.
These comments highlight the Russian president’s continued criticism of Western policies and his belief in Trump’s potential to shape global politics, particularly in resolving the Ukraine crisis. While Trump has not officially responded to Putin’s remarks, the possibility of negotiations remains a topic of significant interest as the war in Ukraine enters another year.
