Putin ready for talks with incoming US President Trump

Investing.com -- Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his readiness to engage in dialogue with US President-elect Donald Trump, despite the fact that they haven't communicated in over four years. During his annual televised news conference and phone-in in Moscow on Thursday, Putin stated that he is prepared for a meeting at any time, should Trump desire one.

President-elect Trump has expressed a desire to resolve Russia's nearly three-year conflict with Ukraine, even before his second presidential term begins on January 20. On Monday, Trump suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy should be prepared to negotiate a deal and seemed to minimize the importance of the territory Russia has occupied since Putin ordered a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Trump has also expressed his desire for Putin to be open to a deal. However, the incoming US president has not yet outlined how he plans to bring both parties to the negotiation table to end the war, and under what conditions.

As Russian forces continue to make progress in eastern Ukraine, Russia has shown hesitance to agree to an immediate ceasefire. Putin reiterated his willingness to hold talks, but insisted that any negotiations should take into consideration the realities on the ground since Russian forces invaded Ukraine and occupied large areas of the country's south and east.

Russia is also demanding that Ukraine give up its ambition to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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Source: Investing.com