Russian President, Vladimir Putin has said that he views the current rapprochement with the Trump administration favourably.
Speaking at a meeting of the Federal Security Service, Putin expressed belief that there is a mutual desire to establish geopolitical cooperation.
“We all see how rapidly the world is changing, the situation in the world. In this regard, I would like to note that the first contacts with the new US administration inspire certain hopes.
“There is a mutual dedication to work towards restoring interstate relations and gradually resolving the enormous volume of accumulated systemic and strategic problems in the global architecture.”
Vladimir Putin
The Russian leader emphasised that it was precisely these “problems” that provoked both the Ukrainian and other regional crises.
Speaking at the headquarters of the Russian Federal Security Service in Moscow, Putin praised the approach of Trump’s administration on global affairs, saying “the current US partners demonstrate pragmatism and a realistic approach, moving beyond stereotypes.”
Also, the Russian leader said that Moscow is ready for peace talks on the Ukrainian settlement, including with Europe on a common security system that considers the interests of all parties.
In his speech, Putin said that the dialogue and prospective end to the conflict had been made possible by the “courage and resilience” of Russian troops and their “daily victories” in Ukraine.
Putin’s remarks came as the US and Russian sides held talks in Istanbul on prospects of removing obstacles in the work of diplomatic missions.
The first round of US-Russia talks, held in Saudi Arabia last week, “lay the groundwork for future co-operation”, including re-establishing economic ties that had been cut by western sanctions, restoring embassy operations and setting up working groups on the terms of a ceasefire in Ukraine
Last week, US President, Donald Trump said that Russia had “taken a lot of territory, so they have the cards” in any peace deal with Ukraine.
He also called Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” and blamed him for Russia’s invasion and for not ending the war sooner.
European countries have condemned this stance, fearing that Trump will push for a ceasefire deal that favours Russia.
Putin Warns ‘Western Elites’ Not To Disrupt Russia-US Talks
Moreover, Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin said that “not everyone is pleased” with recent Russia-US contacts aimed at normalising ties, claiming that there are attempts by “Western elites” to disrupt the process.
He instructed intelligence services to thwart “attempts by Western elites” to interfere with dialogue between Moscow and Washington.
“Part of the Western elites is still determined to maintain instability in the world. And these forces will try to disrupt or compromise the dialogue that has begun.
“We need to take this into account and use all possibilities of diplomacy and special services to disrupt such attempts.”
Vladimir Putin
He told his counterintelligence chiefs that the FSB needs to continue its “systematic work in all relevant areas.”
As well as disrupting the West, the FSB, which Putin once headed, must tackle “international terrorism” and protect military, industrial, transport and energy infrastructure.
According to Putin, the West – apart from America – was collapsing. “You and I can see that the Western community itself has also begun to fall apart from within,” he said.
“This is evidenced by the problems in the economies of many Western countries and in domestic politics. We all see this. This is especially evident in the course of domestic political events in these countries.”
Vladimir Putin
Meanwhile, the leaders of France and Britain have been crafting a joint plan outlining the possible deployment of a European “reassurance force” in post-war Ukraine, primarily based on air power and supported by the US.
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