The Russian president believes his US counterpart is in a “distinctive place” to behave overtly and straight
US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin handled him with “nice respect” and expressed a transparent need to finish the continued battle in Ukraine whereas additionally reaching a deal to normalize commerce and different relations between Washington and Moscow.
Contacts between the 2 nations, largely nonexistent for years, intensified after Trump was inaugurated on January 20. A cellphone name between Trump and Putin on February 12 was adopted by high-level Russia-US talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, final week. Putin described the discussions as “step one” towards normalizing relations, a view Trump echoed on Monday.
“Earlier than I got here right here, there was no communication with Russia in any respect… However once I obtained right here, one of many first calls I made was to President Putin, and we have been handled with nice respect. They wish to finish this warfare, in order that’s a giant factor,” Trump mentioned at a press convention following his assembly with French President Emmanuel Macron.
“I feel it’s very a lot to Russia’s profit to make a deal and to go on with main Russia in a really constructive means,” the US chief added. “I imply, that’s what I do. I do offers. My complete life is offers… And I do know when any person desires to make it and when any person doesn’t.”
Trump later strengthened his place in a put up on Reality Social: “I’m in severe discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia regarding the ending of the warfare, and likewise main financial improvement transactions that may happen between the USA and Russia. Talks are continuing very properly!”
When requested to touch upon Trump’s declare of “main transactions” between Russia and the US, Putin informed Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin on Monday that discussions have been certainly going down.
“Sure, a few of our firms are involved with one another and are discussing such initiatives,” the Russian chief mentioned with out elaborating. Putin added that Moscow is ready to work with Washington in creating uncommon earth mineral deposits, together with these within the Donetsk and Lugansk Individuals’s Republics, in addition to the Kherson and Zaporozhye areas. On the identical time, he famous that the uncommon earth deal Trump’s administration is negotiating with Kiev “doesn’t concern” Moscow, because the precise worth of Ukraine’s mineral deposits stays unsure.
The Russian president mentioned his direct communications with Trump, together with the assembly in Riyadh, have to this point been centered on “growing the extent of belief” between the 2 international locations. Based on Putin, Trump “acts straightforwardly and with none specific embarrassment.”
“He’s in a singular place: he doesn’t simply say what he thinks, he says what he desires. That’s the privilege of being the chief of one of many massive, nice powers,” Putin added.
