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VLADIMIR PUTIN\u00b9:<\/p>\n\n\n\nVLADIMIR PUTIN\u00b9:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You know, you can regard him [Donald Trump] in any way you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After all, at the outset \u2013 during his first presidential term \u2013 everyone said that he was mainly a businessman and that he did not understand much about politics, that he could make mistakes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But, first, I can tell you: his behaviour when he faced an assassination attempt really impressed me.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He turned out to be a courageous man.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A man shows himself in extraordinary conditions \u2013 this is where a man shows himself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And he showed himself, in my opinion, in the right way: he showed his courage, as a man.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He was afraid to take a step to the left, to the right, to say an extra word.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what has been said publicly so far is mostly\u2026 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to congratulate him on his election as President of the United States of America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have already said that we will work with any head of state who has the trust of the American people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will live up to this pledge.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n [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’?]<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You know, I do not think it would be shameful for me to call him.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If someone of them wants to resume contacts, I have always said and I want to say again: we have nothing against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are ready to resume our contacts and have discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n [Does this mean that you are ready to have discussions with Trump?]<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We are ready, of course.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"🐬\"](\"https:\/\/fonts.gstatic.com\/s\/e\/notoemoji\/15.1\/1f42c\/72.png\")
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