Putin wants to talk to Trump and says the 2020 election was stolen

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin declared this Friday (24) that he is willing to meet with the new American president, Donald Trump, to discuss “all matters of interest to Moscow and Washington”, including Ukraine.

“It would be good if we got together, taking into account the current reality, and calmly discussed all the topics that interest both the United States and Russia,” Putin said in an interview with Russian state television presenter Pavel Zarubin.

Putin added that Moscow has taken note of Trump’s willingness to “work together” and are open to it. According to the president, Russia may have “many points of agreement” with the new American government.

“In general, of course, we can have many points of agreement with the current government, seeking solutions to current key issues. These are matters of strategic and economic stability,” he highlighted.

Still in the interview, Putin said that, if the 2020 US election had not been “stolen” and Trump had been re-elected, the war in Ukraine would possibly not have started.

“If he had been elected president, if he had not been robbed of victory in 2020, then perhaps the crisis in Ukraine that emerged in 2022 would not have occurred,” he said.

Putin, who said he had relations of “trust” with the new American leader, insisted that he was open to dialogue on Ukraine, but reiterated that Kiev has a decree prohibiting him from starting such negotiations with Russia.

“I believe that those who pay money (to arm Ukraine) should be forced to do so (negotiate with Moscow),” he emphasized, adding that, in his opinion, Kiev “will have to do so.”

As for Trump’s threat to impose more sanctions on Russia if the country does not end the war, Putin responded that he does not believe the American president will make decisions that would harm the US economy.

“I doubt (Trump) will make decisions that will harm the American economy. He is not only an intelligent person, but also a pragmatist,” he said.

Trump said on Thursday (23) that he was willing to meet with Putin “immediately” to negotiate a peace agreement in Ukraine.

“From what I’ve heard, I think Putin wants to see me. I’ll meet as soon as I can. I mean immediately. Every day we don’t meet, soldiers are dying on the battlefield,” said the American president.

Donald Trump had previously threatened Russia with more sanctions and tariffs if it refused to agree to end the war in Ukraine.