Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin say they are “ready” to reconnect

The two leaders opened the way for a resumption of discussions between Moscow and Washington, while the master of the Kremlin would have preferred to see Kamala Harris access the White House.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump both signaled Thursday, November 7, that they were ready to resume contact, after the Republican's victory in the American presidential election against Kamala Harris. The first sign of opening came from Sochi, on the shores of the Black Sea. “If anyone wants to get back in touch, I don’t mind. I’m ready.”declared Vladimir Putin during a forum, about Donald Trump. “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election to the presidency of the United States.”

The winner of the American presidential election, who could have almost unlimited powers at the top of the state, was quick to respond indirectly. “I think we’re going to talk.”declared Donald Trump about Vladimir Putin, during an interview with the NBC television channel. The president-elect clarified that he had already “probably” spoken to 70 foreign leaders since his victory in Tuesday's election, including Emmanuel Macron.

Before the American election, Vladimir Putin publicly declared that he would prefer to see Joe Biden, then Kamala Harris, in the White House, judging them more “predictable” for Moscow than the Republican candidate. According to a book published by the famous journalist Bob Woodward, Donald Trump would have spoken to Vladimir Putin in secret up to seven times since he left the White House in 2021. The Republican would also have secretly sent Covid screening tests -19 to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin when he was in the White House and in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, the master of the Kremlin assured that he was impressed by the way Donald Trump behaved during an assassination attempt that narrowly missed him during a meeting in July. “He turned out to be a courageous person”declared Vladimir Putin. “People show who they are in extraordinary circumstances. That's when a person reveals himself. And he behaved, in my opinion, very correctly, courageously. Like a man”launched Vladimir Putin. In the past, Donald Trump has been criticized on several occasions for his laudatory remarks aimed at Vladimir Putin.