VLADIMIR PUTIN¹:
“You know, you can regard him [Donald Trump] in any way you like.
After all, at the outset – during his first presidential term – everyone said that he was mainly a businessman and that he did not understand much about politics, that he could make mistakes.
But, first, I can tell you: his behaviour when he faced an assassination attempt really impressed me.
He turned out to be a courageous man.
It was not just the raised hand and the call to fight for their shared ideals. It was not just that, although, of course, this was more of a reflex.
A man shows himself in extraordinary conditions – this is where a man shows himself.
And he showed himself, in my opinion, in the right way: he showed his courage, as a man.
As for politics during his first term in office, I do not know whether what I say reaches him, but still I will say it now.
I am saying this absolutely sincerely: I have the impression that he was hounded from all sides, that they would not let him do anything.
He was afraid to take a step to the left, to the right, to say an extra word.
I do not know what will happen now, I have no idea: this is his last term after all, so it is up to him to make his choices.
But what has been said publicly so far is mostly… I do not want to comment now on what was said during the presidential campaign, I think it was said consciously trying to win votes, but whatever.
And what has been said in terms of trying to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion at least deserves attention.
Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to congratulate him on his election as President of the United States of America.
I have already said that we will work with any head of state who has the trust of the American people.
We will live up to this pledge.”
[And if he fulfils everything that he has been talking about all the time, and if calls you before the inauguration and says: ‘Vladimir, let us meet’?]
“You know, I do not think it would be shameful for me to call him.
I do not do this because there was a time when the leaders of Western countries have been calling me almost every week, and then suddenly they stopped.
If they do not want to do it, so be it. As you can see, we are alive and well, and are developing, moving ahead.
If someone of them wants to resume contacts, I have always said and I want to say again: we have nothing against it.
We are ready to resume our contacts and have discussions.
But there are many people willing to have discussions, there is a whole audience here, but if not, we will have a discussion with you then.”
[Does this mean that you are ready to have discussions with Trump?]
“We are ready, of course.”
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Excerpt from remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the plenary session of the 21st annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, Sochi, November 7, 2024.
Source: kremlin.ru
