Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US election, saying that Moscow is prepared to engage in dialogue with the newly elected Republican president.
In his first public remarks since Trump’s win, Putin acknowledged Trump’s courage during the gun attack at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July, describing Trump’s response as that of “a real man.”
“In my opinion, he behaved in a very correct way, courageously, like a real man,” Putin said at the Valdai discussion club in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. “I take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election.”
Putin said remarks Trump had made during the election campaign about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia deserved attention.
“What was said about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to bring about the end of the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, this deserves attention at least,” said Putin.
The 72-year-old Kremlin chief gave just one note of caution: “I do not know what is going to happen now. I have no clue.”
When pressed by a questioner what he would do if Trump called to suggest a meeting, Putin said he was ready to resume contacts if the Trump administration wanted that, and was ready for discussions with Trump.
Russia and Trump have repeatedly dismissed as nonsense some claims in Western media that Trump was a sort of Russian agent of influence. Russian officials say that during his first term, from 2017 to 2021, Trump was tough on Russia.
US Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated allegations of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia in the 2016 US presidential election but said in a 2019 report that he found no evidence of conspiracy.
Moscow has also repeatedly denied US assertions that Russia meddled in the 2024 and other presidential elections and had spread disinformation in an attempt to sow chaos.
