Putin congratulates Trump on election win and expresses readiness for talks
Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, calling him a "real man" and expressing readiness for talks. This marks Putin's first comments since Trump's win, highlighting a shift in Russia's approach to U.S. relations. Putin praised Trump for his bravery following an assassination attempt and suggested that Trump faced bullying during his previous presidency. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted Trump's desire to end the war in Ukraine but called his claims of resolving it quickly an "overexaggeration." Trump's plan reportedly involves freezing the conflict to create a demilitarized zone, with no U.S. troops involved. Ukrainian officials expressed mixed feelings, noting that Trump's unpredictability could present both risks and opportunities for Ukraine.