(The Hill) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his election victory and said he was ready to hold discussions with the incoming president.
Putin made his remarks during a speech at the Valdai Discussion Club, a conference held in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, according to the Russian state news site TASS.
Putin reportedly said he was impressed by Trump’s response to the assassination attempt in July, calling him a “courageous man,” and added he was ready to hold discussions with the president-elect.
The Kremlin said Wednesday that Putin was holding off on congratulating Trump.
Trump has boasted of having a friendly relationship with Putin and that he would call the Russian leader to end Russia’s war in Ukraine before inauguration day.
Trump has not confirmed or denied reports that he has spoken with Putin at least seven times since leaving office in 2021. But he said on the campaign trail that it would be “smart” for him to talk with the Russian leader.
Putin noted in his remarks that Trump’s campaign statements deserve attention, according to TASS.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had a “productive conversation” with Trump following his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
“It was a productive conversation, a good conversation,” Zelensky said of his phone call with Trump on Wednesday. “Of course, we cannot yet know what his actions will be. But we do hope that America will become stronger.”