President Putin Says ‘Ready’ to Have Discussions With Trump
Donald Trump (L) and Vladimir Putin (R). X/ @BRICSinfo
November 8, 2024 Hour: 7:51 am
His readiness for dialogue, however, does not mean a change in the goals of the Russian special military operation.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he is ready to hold discussions with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and congratulated Trump on winning the U.S. presidential election.
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When answering a question about whether he is ready to talk with Trump at the plenary session of the Russian think tank Valdai’s annual meeting, the Russian leader said: “ready.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States,” Putin said, adding that Russia will work with any head of state who the American people trust.
Previously, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Trump had said he would call Putin before the inauguration, adding that work on organizing a meeting between Putin and Trump is not underway yet. However, Peskov clarified that Putin’s readiness for dialogue with the U.S. president-elect does not mean a change in the goals of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.
“President Putin has never said that the goals of the special military operation will change; on the contrary, he has repeatedly said that they remain the same,” he stated, stressing that the special military operation is a matter that concerns Russia’s security interests.
“Putin has spoken many times about the readiness for dialogue with all interested parties, with all those who can contribute to the resolution of this conflict. This is what must be remembered without fail,” the Kremlin spokesman said.
Putin stressed that Moscow is determined to pave the way for a “long-term settlement” so that Ukraine becomes an “independent and sovereign state.” He also said that the border with Ukraine should pass where the citizens living in “the Russian historical territories” decide, referring to people in the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia.
Last June, the Russian president made it a condition for peace that Ukraine withdraw its troops from Donbas and the south of the country, and give up plans to join NATO. If the Ukrainians do so, the Kremlin would announce an immediate ceasefire and the beginning of negotiations to settle the conflict.
teleSUR/ JF Source: Xinhua – EFE
