Vladimir Putin has hailed Donald Trump as “courageous” for his response to an assassination try as he congratulated the following US president.
Mr Trump gained a decisive victory within the 2024 election – comfortably clearing the 270 Electoral School votes wanted to safe the presidency and clinching 5 battleground states.
All through his marketing campaign, Mr Trump stated he would finish the struggle between Russia and Ukraine in simply 24 hours – with out explaining how he would accomplish that.
Talking within the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Thursday, the Russian chief additionally famous the president-elect’s “desire to restore relations,” however added he has “no idea” what to anticipate from Mr Trump’s second time period in workplace.
Whereas Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already congratulated the Republican on his win, he raised issues that his plan to finish the struggle with Russia rapidly means “losses for Ukraine”.
Picture:
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in July 2018. Pic: AP
After giving a speech at a global discussion board in Sochi, Mr Putin stated Mr Trump’s “behaviour at the time of the attempt on his life made an impression on me”.
“He turned out to be a courageous man,” the Russian president stated. “And it’s not just about the raised hand and the call to fight for his and their common ideals…
“He behaved, in my view, in a really right method, courageously, like a person.”
Putin will not be popping champagne corks simply but
It was a basic curveball from Vladimir Putin.
Initially, the Kremlin performed it cool. “No plans to congratulate Donald Trump,” it stated, “the US is a hostile nation”.
However midway by way of one other considered one of Putin’s marathon Q&As, that instantly modified.
It felt like the beginning of a courtship – an try by Russia’s president to rekindle their bromance.
He praised Trump’s bravery and referred to as him an actual man. Flattery of a person who sees himself as a tricky chief.
As for the declare Russia is “open to dialogue”? Learn that as “call me”.
This was an overture from Putin, little doubt, however he would not need to make the primary transfer.
I feel that is as a result of Moscow remains to be cautious about one other Trump time period. The primary did not dwell as much as their expectations.
Regardless of heat phrases from Trump, sanctions elevated and the US despatched weapons to Ukraine.
So in contrast to 2016, Russia’s not popping any champagne corks simply but.
Mr Putin stated he felt Mr Trump was “hounded from all sides” when he was final president, and added: “I do not know what is going to happen now.
“I’ve no clue. For him, that is his final time period. What he’ll do, these are questions for him.”
The Russian president added what Mr Trump has said “concerning the need to revive relations with Russia, to assist finish the Ukrainian disaster, in my view, deserves consideration a minimum of”.
However when requested about Kamala Harris’s debate suggestion that Mr Putin will “eat Donald Trump for lunch”, he bizarrely responded: “Vladimir Putin does not eat people.”
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‘Putin would not eat folks’
Mr Trump stated in a telephone interview: “Well, I would think that [he and Mr Putin] will speak. I would certainly think so.”
He added he isn’t conscious of any plans to talk to the Russian chief.
It comes as Mr Zelenskyy stated in Budapest on Thursday he was not conscious of any particulars of Mr Trump’s plan to finish the Ukraine struggle rapidly – however fears a fast decision would imply main concessions for Kyiv.
“If it’s just fast, it means losses for Ukraine,” he stated. “I just don’t yet understand how this could be in any other way. Maybe we do not know something, do not see.”
Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy met at Trump Tower in New York in September – days after the long run president complained at a rally that “we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal” to finish the struggle.
