Vladimir Putin backs Donald Trump's efforts to end Ukraine war, says he's ‘survived two assassination attempts' & is open to talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised US President Donald Trump, calling him a "very courageous person" and acknowledging Trump's survival of two assassination attempts. Putin made the remarks while reflecting on Trump's approach to foreign policy, including efforts to end the Ukraine conflict. He also said he remains open to meeting Trump in the future, suggesting the potential for a stronger US-Russia relationship.
The Russian leader described Trump as someone who has "travelled a very long and difficult path" and stressed that he respected Trump's persistence and intentions.
Trump's role in the Ukraine war
Putin highlighted Trump's stance on Ukraine, noting that the former US president appeared committed to ending the ongoing war. 'As for what he is doing within the country, or when it comes to the Middle East or his efforts to achieve peace in the Ukraine crisis — we value that a lot,' Putin said.
He also referenced Trump's own admission that the Ukraine war was more complex than expected. Putin commented, 'It's true and it's expected. One thing is to look at something from the outside — it's another to be involved. Real life is always difficult.'
Meeting possibility remains on the table
Putin said Trump had proposed the idea of a bilateral meeting more than once. While no formal plans were announced, Putin expressed openness to the idea and said that such a meeting could potentially elevate ties between the two nations.
'Thanks to Trump, US-Russia relations are moving forward,' he remarked. The Russian president indicated that the right setting could lead to 'a new level of partnership.'
US President Donald Trump | Credit: X
Trump acknowledges difficulty, calls Putin 'misguided'
Putin's comments followed statements made by Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague. There, Trump described Putin as 'misguided' and admitted that his expectations for resolving the Ukraine war had been overly optimistic.
'I think it's a great time to end it [the war],' Trump said. 'I'm going to speak to Vladimir Putin, see if we can get it ended. I thought we would have had that settled easy.'
When asked if Putin may have ambitions beyond Ukraine, Trump responded, 'It's possible,' reinforcing long-standing concerns in the US and NATO about Russia's regional ambitions.
Putin's comments add a new dimension to the US-Russia dialogue, as both leaders acknowledge the challenges ahead but leave the door open for engagement.
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