Just hours ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed openness to rebuilding relations with the new US administration.

Putin’s statement reflects cautious hopes in Russia that Trump may be able to begin to repair ties between Washington and Moscow, which have fallen to their lowest level since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, even as many Russian government officials publicly say they realise that such hopes may come to nothing.

In a televised Russian Security Council meeting, Putin said, “We see the statements by the newly elected President of the United States and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia.”

Putin said that he welcomed statements from Trump and his team “expressing a desire to restore direct contact with Russia” and the “need to do everything to prevent a third world war,” emphasizing Moscow’s willingness to engage in dialogue. “We certainly welcome this approach,” he stated.

Also, he congratulated the elected President of the United States of America on taking office.

Putin emphasized that Russia has never refused dialogue, has always been ready to maintain smooth cooperative relations with any American administration.

“We proceed from the fact that the dialogue will be built on an equal and mutually respectful basis, taking into account the significant role that our countries play on a number of key issues on the global agenda, including strengthening strategic stability and security.”
Vladimir Putin

Putin took the opportunity to restate Russia’s position on a possible settlement in Ukraine. “We are also open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict,” he said, stressing the importance of achieving long-term peace while reaffirming Russia’s commitment to protecting its interests.

“As for the resolution of the situation (in Ukraine) itself, I would like to emphasise that the goal should not be a brief ceasefire, not some kind of period of respite that would allow a regrouping and rearmament of forces, but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people and all peoples who live in the region.”
Vladimir Putin

Putin added that any talks with the United States must be conducted on an “equal and mutually respectful basis.”

Trump has promised to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, though he has not explained exactly how he would do that.

Trump, who pledged during his campaign to end the war in Ukraine, has set an ambitious goal. While he initially said that he would secure a peace deal on his first day in office, his advisors now admit that resolving the conflict could take months or more.

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, confirmed the administration’s plan to work toward peace within the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency.

Putin has said before that he is ready for talks but that Russia’s territorial gains and claims must be accepted, something the Ukrainian leadership has rejected as an unacceptable capitulation.

Russia Poised To Discuss Nuclear Arms Control With US

Moreover, Putin indicated in his televised speech at the Russian Security Council meeting that Moscow was ready to discuss nuclear arms control and wider security issues.

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, which caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy, and the deployment of land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them, is due to run out on Feb. 5, 2026.

It is the last remaining pillar of nuclear arms control between the world’s two biggest nuclear powers.