Putin congratulates Trump on election win and expresses interest in U.S.-Russia relations
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, praising his bravery during a recent assassination attempt. Putin expressed interest in Trump's desire to improve U.S.-Russia relations and resolve the Ukraine conflict.
The Kremlin welcomed Trump's claim that he could negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict quickly but stated it would wait for specific actions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned the possibility of contact between Trump and Putin before the inauguration.
Putin acknowledged uncertainty about Trump's next term, noting that U.S.-Russia relations are currently at a low point. He highlighted that Trump's first term saw significant sanctions against Russia, despite Trump's admiration for him.