Putin shows openness to meet Trump amid Ukraine conflict discussion
Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated openness to meet with Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing Ukraine conflict and related issues, amidst tensions and claims regarding past elections.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to meet with Donald Trump, aligning with the newly elected president's assertion that the Ukraine-Russia war may have been averted if Trump had been in office in 2022.
Earlier this week, Trump indicated his desire to meet with Putin "soon" to discuss ending what he termed the "ridiculous" Ukraine war, which he believes has caused unnecessary loss of life.
Praising Trump as "smart" and "pragmatic," Putin agreed that a meeting between the two leaders would be beneficial to address the ongoing conflict and fluctuating energy prices.
Russia commenced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which has resulted in widespread destruction and significant casualties on both sides, labelled by the Kremlin as a "special military operation."
In his first week following his second inauguration, Trump has threatened to impose taxes, tariffs, and sanctions against Russia if efforts are not made to conclude the nearly three-year-long conflict.
Putin noted that meaningful peace talks are unlikely unless Western nations urge Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to annul a 2022 decree that prevents him from engaging in negotiations with Russia while Putin remains in power.
"Therefore, it would likely be best for us to meet based on the realities of today, and calmly discuss all areas of mutual interest to both the United States and Russia. We are prepared," Putin stated in an interview with a Russian television reporter.
In response, Zelenskiy accused Putin of attempting to "manipulate" the U.S. president's desire for peace. "He wants to manipulate the desire of the President of the United States of America to achieve peace," he remarked via social media.
Zelenskiy expressed confidence that Russian manipulations would no longer succeed.
Putin further supported Trump's claim of a stolen 2020 election, stating that had Trump won, the Ukraine-Russia crisis may have never occurred.
Putin's comments indicate a potential upcoming meeting between the two leaders, which would be the first after almost three years with limited contact between the Kremlin and Western nations due to the war. The two had previously held two significant meetings during Trump's last term, including an informal meeting at the G20 summit in July 2017 and a formal summit to discuss the Syrian conflict in July 2018.
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