Putin Open to Talks with Trump Amid Ukraine War, Says Russia Is “Stronger Than Ever”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed that he has not spoken to former U.S. President Donald Trump in over four years but is “ready” for potential talks if Trump is willing, amid expectations that a new administration in Washington could push for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.
During his year-end press conference on December 9, Putin addressed a range of topics, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He avoided specifying a timeline for retaking the southern Kursk region, emphasizing that Russian forces were advancing “along the entire frontline.”
The event, a combination of a public Q&A session and a phone-in, is an annual showcase of Putin’s control over national and international issues. Responding to a question from NBC’s Kier Simmons, Putin stated, “I haven’t spoken to [Trump] at all in over four years. Of course, I am ready for this at any time, and I will be ready for a meeting if he wants it.”
When asked whether Russia’s negotiating position might be weakened by recent setbacks in the Middle East and Ukraine, Putin dismissed the idea, saying, “You, and those who pay your salaries in the U.S., would very much like Russia to be in a weakened position. I believe that Russia has become much stronger over the past two or three years because we are becoming a truly sovereign country, hardly dependent on anyone.”
Putin also addressed speculation about his past interactions with Trump, denying frequent communication. This comes after journalist Bob Woodward claimed in a recent book that the two had held “maybe as many as seven” conversations since 2021, a claim Trump has denied.
Regarding the battle for the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been holding positions after a surprise incursion in August, Putin refrained from committing to a specific timeline for recapture but expressed confidence in eventual success.
“Our guys are fighting; there are serious battles. It is unclear why the Ukrainian Armed Forces entered the Kursk region with no military sense or why they continue to hold on there, sacrificing their best units. But nevertheless, it is happening,” he said.
Putin concluded, “We will definitely push them out. There is no other way.”
