Kremlin signals Putin's willingness to engage in talks with Trump

MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to dialogue with US President-elect Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Speaking at a Moscow press briefing, Peskov, however, said no specific arrangements had been made for a Putin-Trump conversation at this time.

“As we all heard, Mr. Trump indicated during the campaign that he would reach out to President Putin himself. So, the openness to dialogue persists, as highlighted yesterday by the Russian president,” he explained.

On Thursday, at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin congratulated Trump on his electoral victory, saying it would “not be shameful” for Russia to initiate a call.

In a recent NBC interview, Trump acknowledged he had not yet spoken to Putin since winning the election, though he did not rule out the possibility.

Asked if these developments suggest a warming of Russian-American relations, Peskov responded cautiously: “Certain statements have been made, but without concrete actions, it’s too soon to discuss any shift in the relationship.”

Addressing US-China relations, Peskov said the Kremlin would assess Trump’s proposed economic actions toward Beijing based on tangible outcomes.

He recalled that Trump had discussed protective economic measures for American industries during the campaign, though concrete steps are yet to be observed.

Addressing the situation in Ukraine, the spokesman reiterated Russia’s willingness to engage in dialogue over a resolution, affirming that the objectives of its "special military operation" remain unchanged.

“The president has consistently said that the goals of the special military operation are not shifting. On the contrary, he has reiterated that they stay the same, centering on our country’s security interests and those of the Russian people in the region. There has been no discussion of altering these objectives,” he added.

Peskov also underscored Putin’s openness to dialogue with any parties interested in helping to resolve the conflict, which continues since 2022. He said Putin has often emphasized a commitment to achieving the military campaign's aims through peaceful means if possible.