
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to hold talks with former US President Donald Trump to address the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Speaking to a reporter from Russian state TV on Friday, Putin reiterated, "We have always said, and I want to emphasise this once again, that we are ready for these negotiations on Ukrainian issues."
Praises for Trump’s leadership style
Putin described Trump as "pragmatic" and "smart," stating he did not believe the former US president would take measures to lower global oil prices to harm Russia. "He is not only a smart person, but a pragmatic person," Putin said, adding that extreme oil price fluctuations were harmful to both the Russian and American economies.
Could the war have been averted?
Putin suggested that the 2022 Ukraine crisis, which saw Moscow launch a full-scale military offensive, might have been avoided if Trump had been U.S. president at the time.
Ukraine warns against exclusion from talks
Meanwhile, Kyiv issued a strong warning against any negotiations on Ukraine between the US and Russia that do not include Ukraine and Europe. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, stated on Telegram, "He (Putin) wants to negotiate the fate of Europe – without Europe. And he wants to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine. This is not going to happen."
Yermak emphasised that Putin must "come back to reality," asserting that decisions on Ukraine cannot be made without its involvement. The remarks highlight Kyiv’s insistence on being a key player in any discussions regarding its sovereignty and future
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