Vladimir Putin gushes over president-elect Trump, claims he will support US-Russia relations

SOCHI, Russia – President Vladimir Putin connected Thursday congratulated Donald Trump connected winning nan U.S. election, praised him for showing courageousness erstwhile a gunman tried to assassinate him, and said Moscow was fresh for speech pinch nan Republican president-elect.

In his first nationalist remarks since Trump’s win, Putin said Trump had acted for illustration a existent man during an assassination effort while speaking astatine a run rally successful Butler, Pennsylvania connected July 14.

“He behaved, successful my opinion, successful a very correct way, courageously, for illustration a existent man,” Putin said astatine nan Valdai chat nine successful nan Russian Black Sea edifice of Sochi. “I return this opportunity to congratulate him connected his election.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s praised Donald Trump. AP

Putin added that Trump had been “hounded by each sides” successful nan tumultuous statesmanlike predetermination run but said Trump’s remarks astir Ukraine and restoring relations pinch Russia deserved attention.

“What was said astir nan desire to reconstruct relations pinch Russia, to bring astir nan extremity of nan Ukrainian situation successful my sentiment this deserves attraction astatine least,” said Putin.

Trump said during campaigning that he could bring bid successful Ukraine wrong 24 hours if he was elected, but has fixed fewer specifications connected really he would activity to extremity nan biggest onshore warfare successful Europe since World War Two.

The 72-year-old Kremlin main gave conscionable 1 statement of caution: “I do not cognize what is going to hap now. I person nary clue.”

When pressed by a questioner what he would do if Trump called to propose a meeting, Putin said he was fresh to resume contacts if a Trump management wanted to and was fresh for chat pinch Trump.

Trump and Putin during a gathering connected nan sidelines of nan G20 acme successful Osaka, Japan connected June 28, 2019. REUTERS

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said connected Thursday that Russia’s activity remembered Trump’s words astir trying to resoluteness nan Ukraine situation moreover if he exaggerated nan velocity astatine which he could do it.

Asked astir Kamala Harris’s informing that Putin would eat Trump for lunch, Peskov said pinch a chuckle: “Putin does not eat people.”