Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to dialogue with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, though no formal plans for a conversation have been set.
Peskov noted that Trump had expressed an intent to reach out to Putin during his campaign, adding that this willingness for dialogue remains, as Putin highlighted on Thursday at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, where he congratulated Trump on his election win and suggested it would be acceptable for Russia to initiate a call.
Trump mentioned in an NBC interview that he has not yet spoken with Putin but left open the possibility of future communication. When asked if this might indicate a warming of U.S.-Russia relations, Peskov replied cautiously, saying that without concrete steps, it’s premature to speculate on any changes.
Regarding U.S.-China relations, Peskov said the Kremlin will evaluate Trump’s proposed economic policies toward China once they lead to specific outcomes. He recalled that Trump had mentioned economic protections for American industries during his campaign, though no actions have materialized yet.
On the Ukraine situation, Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to dialogue for a resolution, reiterating that the objectives of its “special military operation” remain fixed, focused on the security of Russia and its people in the region. Putin is open to discussions with any parties seeking to contribute to peace, emphasizing that achieving the military campaign’s goals through peaceful means, if possible, is a priority.
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