President Vladimir Putin has expressed his readiness to discuss the war in Ukraine with US President Donald Trump after Trump warned that Russia must end the conflict quickly or face “high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions.”
In his first remarks following Trump’s warning, Putin stated he was open to negotiations. Speaking to a Russian state TV journalist, Putin said, “We take the current president’s statements about his willingness to work together seriously. We are always open to dialogue and prepared for negotiations.”
He added, “It would be more effective for us to meet and discuss the realities of today in a calm manner.”
Describing his relationship with Trump, Putin referred to it as “businesslike, pragmatic, and trustworthy.” He further praised Trump, saying, “He is not only intelligent but also pragmatic. I find it hard to imagine that he would make decisions detrimental to the American economy.”
However, Putin noted that negotiations with Ukraine were challenging due to a decree signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which bars him from engaging in talks with Putin.
Putin also suggested that the war in Ukraine could have been avoided had Trump not been “robbed of the election” in 2020. “I agree with Trump that if he had been president and his victory had not been stolen in 2020, the crisis in Ukraine that began in 2022 might not have occurred,” he said.
