Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, calling him a “courageous man”.
Talking at an occasion within the Russian metropolis of Sochi, the Russian president stated that Trump was “hounded from all sides” throughout his first time period within the White Home.
Putin additionally stated that Trump’s declare that he may help finish the warfare in Ukraine “deserves attention at least”.
Throughout his marketing campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly stated he might finish the warfare “in a day” however has by no means elaborated on how that might occur.
Throughout Putin’s handle, which lasted a number of hours and coated a variety of matters, he additionally spoke of the assassination try on Donald Trump in July, saying it “made an impression” on him.
After being shot, Trump punched his fist into the air and mouthed the phrases “fight, fight, fight”, earlier than being hauled away by Secret Service brokers.
“He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageously, like a man,” Putin stated.
Requested if he was able to have discussions with Donald Trump, Putin replied: “We’re ready, we’re ready.”
Trump had already stated on Thursday that he was ready to talk with Putin, telling NBC Information: “I think we’ll speak”.
The Kremlin was extensively accused of interfering within the 2016 presidential election to spice up Donald Trump’s marketing campaign in opposition to Hilary Clinton, claims rejected by Moscow.
US Particular Counsel Robert Mueller investigated allegations of collusion between Trump’s marketing campaign and Russia in 2016, however stated in a report three years later that had discovered no proof of conspiracy.
Getty PicturesElsewhere on Thursday, leaders gathering for the European Political Group in Budapest mentioned Trump’s return to the White Home.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he had a “very warm” and “productive conversation” with the president-elect.
“But we have to do everything to ensure that the results of our interaction between Ukraine and America, the whole of Europe and America, are productive and positive,” he added.
Many in Ukraine and Europe are anxious that Trump would possibly sluggish, if not halt, the move of American army help to Kyiv upon taking energy in January.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer assured Zelensky on the summit that the UK’s help for Ukraine in its warfare with Russia stays “iron-clad”.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – who beforehand stated he celebrated Trump’s win by “tapping into the vodka supply happily” – stated the US and Europe now face robust talks on commerce.
Orban, who’s a detailed ally of Trump, advised a press convention that “the trade issue with the US will come up and it will not be easy”.
Earlier than successful the election, Trump stated he would impose tariffs of 10% on all imports.
“There was an settlement that Europe ought to assume higher accountability for its personal peace and safety sooner or later. To place it much more bluntly, we can’t count on Individuals to be the one ones to care for us,” Orban stated.
