Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he is open to meet with United States President Donald Trump to “talk calmly” about issues such as energy prices and the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine.
“It would be better for us to meet, based on the realities of today, to talk calmly on all those areas that are of interest to both the United States and Russia,” Putin said during an interview on domestic TV channel Russia 24.
“We are ready. But, I repeat, this primarily, of course, depends on the decisions and choices of the current American administration,” he added.
Trump threatened Wednesday to hit Russia with massive tariffs and sanctions if it does not make a deal to end the war in Ukraine. But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov Thursday brushed off Trump’s remarks.
Ukraine insists that its desires are key to any peace deal being hashed out, and that a pact should secure favorable terms for Kyiv.
“Putin is trying to promote the idea of negotiations with the U.S. But he wants to agree on the fate of Europe — without Europe. And he wants to talk about Ukraine — without Ukraine,” Ukrainian President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak said in a statement on Friday.
In the interview, Putin also described Trump as “smart” and “pragmatic,” and said he did not expect him to make decisions that would damage the U.S. economy.
“I’ve always had a businesslike, pragmatic and even trusting relationship with the current president,” Putin said according to The Moscow Times. “And I can’t help but agree that if his victory hadn’t been stolen in 2020, the crisis in Ukraine might not have emerged in 2022,” he added about the full-scale invasion he himself ordered.
The U.S. president has repeatedly boasted about how quickly he would end Russia’s all-out assault shortly after coming to power. Since his inauguration Monday, Trump has talked a tough stance with the Kremlin, telling reporters that Putin is “destroying Russia” and that he should cut a deal ASAP.
Veronika Melkozerova contributed to this report.
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