Moscow, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his annual end-of-year press conference, expressed readiness to discuss a potential compromise with US President-elect Donald Trump on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.
Putin stated his willingness to meet Trump at any time, despite not having spoken to him in over four years.
“I don’t know when I’m going to see him. He isn’t saying anything about it. I haven’t talked to him in more than four years. I am ready for it, of course. Any time,” he said.
The Russian president also highlighted the capabilities of the “Oreshnik” hypersonic missile, which he claimed has been successfully tested on Ukrainian military targets. Putin provocatively suggested a demonstration to challenge Western air defense systems.
“Let them determine some target for destruction, say in Kyiv, concentrate all their air defence and missile defence forces there, and we will strike there with Oreshnik and see what happens. We are ready for such an experiment, but is the other side ready?” he said.
Earlier, Putin congratulated Trump on his presidential victory and expressed Russia’s readiness for dialogue with the incoming Republican administration. Speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi on November 7, he reiterated Moscow’s willingness to work with any US leader trusted by the American people.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his victory in the US presidential election. I have already said that we will work with any head of state who is trusted by the American people,” Putin remarked.
This marked Putin’s first public acknowledgment of Trump’s win. He also commended Trump for his courage during an attempted assassination at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 14.
“He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way – courageously, like a real man,” Putin said.
The developments signal potential shifts in Russia-US relations as the two leaders explore avenues for engagement on critical geopolitical issues.