Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump both expressed openness to holding talks following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. In a statement at the Valdai forum in Sochi, Putin congratulated Trump on his win, acknowledging the Republican tycoon’s success in defeating Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. When asked about the possibility of dialogue with the newly elected president, Putin responded simply, "Ready."

Trump, for his part, also signaled a willingness to engage in discussions with Putin. In an interview with NBC News, he revealed that he had already spoken with approximately 70 world leaders since his election results were announced, though he confirmed that a conversation with Putin had not yet taken place. The U.S. president-elect also noted that despite Putin’s earlier comments about preferring Kamala Harris to win, Moscow had long appreciated Trump’s anti-establishment stance and the disruptive influence he brought to both U.S. and global politics.

Putin’s comments highlighted his admiration for Trump’s resilience in the face of adversity. Referring to a recent assassination attempt on Trump during a rally, Putin described the U.S. leader as "courageous," emphasizing that extraordinary circumstances reveal a person’s true character. "He showed himself in a very correct manner, courageously. Like a man," Putin said.

The relationship between Trump and Putin has long been a subject of international intrigue. During Trump’s first term, Russia was accused of interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to support his campaign, though the Kremlin denied these allegations. Furthermore, reports suggest that the two leaders had frequent private communications during Trump’s presidency, including instances where Trump reportedly sent Russia much-needed Covid-19 tests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump both expressed openness to holding talks following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. In a statement at the Valdai forum in Sochi, Putin congratulated Trump on his win, acknowledging the Republican tycoon’s success in defeating Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. When asked about the possibility of dialogue with the newly elected president, Putin responded simply, "Ready."

Trump, for his part, also signaled a willingness to engage in discussions with Putin. In an interview with NBC News, he revealed that he had already spoken with approximately 70 world leaders since his election results were announced, though he confirmed that a conversation with Putin had not yet taken place. The U.S. president-elect also noted that despite Putin’s earlier comments about preferring Kamala Harris to win, Moscow had long appreciated Trump’s anti-establishment stance and the disruptive influence he brought to both U.S. and global politics.

Putin’s comments highlighted his admiration for Trump’s resilience in the face of adversity. Referring to a recent assassination attempt on Trump during a rally, Putin described the U.S. leader as "courageous," emphasizing that extraordinary circumstances reveal a person’s true character. "He showed himself in a very correct manner, courageously. Like a man," Putin said.

The relationship between Trump and Putin has long been a subject of international intrigue. During Trump’s first term, Russia was accused of interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to support his campaign, though the Kremlin denied these allegations. Furthermore, reports suggest that the two leaders had frequent private communications during Trump’s presidency, including instances where Trump reportedly sent Russia much-needed Covid-19 tests.