Putin treated him with ‘great respect’, says Trump
US President Donald Trump stated that during their discussion, Russian President Vladimir Putin showed him “great respect.” Read Full Article at RT.com.
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The Russian president believes his US counterpart is in a “unique position” to act openly and directly.
US President Donald Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin treated him with “great respect” during their phone call earlier this month. Trump mentioned that Putin expressed a clear desire to end the conflict in Ukraine and to normalize relations between Washington and Moscow.
After a prolonged period of minimal contacts between the two countries, interactions have intensified since Trump took office on January 20. Following a phone call between Trump and Putin on February 12, high-level discussions took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last week. Putin characterized these discussions as “the first step” toward normalizing relations, a sentiment echoed by Trump on Monday.
“Before I came here, there was no communication with Russia whatsoever... But when I got here, one of the first calls I made was to President Putin, and we were treated with great respect. They want to end this war, so that’s a big thing,” Trump remarked at a press conference after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House.
Trump added, “I think it’s very much to Russia’s benefit to make a deal and to go on with leading Russia in a very positive way. I mean, that’s what I do. I do deals. My whole life is deals… And I know when somebody wants to make it and when somebody doesn’t.”
Later, Trump reaffirmed his stance in a post on Truth Social: “I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the war, and also major economic development transactions that will take place between the United States and Russia. Talks are proceeding very well!”
When asked to comment on Trump’s assertion of “major transactions” between Russia and the US, Putin told Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin on Monday that discussions were indeed underway.
“Yes, some of our companies are in contact with each other and are discussing such projects,” the Russian leader said. He also noted that Moscow is willing to collaborate with Washington on developing rare-earth mineral deposits in regions such as Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye. However, he pointed out that the rare-earth deal the Trump administration is negotiating with Kiev “doesn’t concern” Moscow, given the uncertainty surrounding the actual value of Ukraine’s mineral deposits.
According to Putin, his direct communication with Trump, together with the meeting in Riyadh, has focused on “increasing the level of trust” between their two nations. He remarked that Trump “acts straightforwardly and without any particular embarrassment,” adding, “He is in a unique position: he doesn’t just say what he thinks, he says what he wants. That’s the privilege of being the leader of one of the big, great powers.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin treated him with “great respect” during their phone call earlier this month. Trump mentioned that Putin expressed a clear desire to end the conflict in Ukraine and to normalize relations between Washington and Moscow.
After a prolonged period of minimal contacts between the two countries, interactions have intensified since Trump took office on January 20. Following a phone call between Trump and Putin on February 12, high-level discussions took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last week. Putin characterized these discussions as “the first step” toward normalizing relations, a sentiment echoed by Trump on Monday.
“Before I came here, there was no communication with Russia whatsoever... But when I got here, one of the first calls I made was to President Putin, and we were treated with great respect. They want to end this war, so that’s a big thing,” Trump remarked at a press conference after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House.
Trump added, “I think it’s very much to Russia’s benefit to make a deal and to go on with leading Russia in a very positive way. I mean, that’s what I do. I do deals. My whole life is deals… And I know when somebody wants to make it and when somebody doesn’t.”
Later, Trump reaffirmed his stance in a post on Truth Social: “I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the war, and also major economic development transactions that will take place between the United States and Russia. Talks are proceeding very well!”
When asked to comment on Trump’s assertion of “major transactions” between Russia and the US, Putin told Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin on Monday that discussions were indeed underway.
“Yes, some of our companies are in contact with each other and are discussing such projects,” the Russian leader said. He also noted that Moscow is willing to collaborate with Washington on developing rare-earth mineral deposits in regions such as Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye. However, he pointed out that the rare-earth deal the Trump administration is negotiating with Kiev “doesn’t concern” Moscow, given the uncertainty surrounding the actual value of Ukraine’s mineral deposits.
According to Putin, his direct communication with Trump, together with the meeting in Riyadh, has focused on “increasing the level of trust” between their two nations. He remarked that Trump “acts straightforwardly and without any particular embarrassment,” adding, “He is in a unique position: he doesn’t just say what he thinks, he says what he wants. That’s the privilege of being the leader of one of the big, great powers.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
