Putin willing to reset US-Russia relations to favor Kremlin - ISW
Photo: Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that US President-elect Donald Trump would likely heed the Kremlin's interests and preferences without offering any concessions or benefits in return, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
During his address at the Valdai Discussion Club on November 7, Putin expressed openness to discussions to restore Russian-American relations.
However, he stated that the United States must initiate these talks. He hinted that Moscow would only consider a reset in relations if sanctions against Russia are lifted and support for Ukraine is halted — terms that solely benefit Russia and offer no advantage to the US.
Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the Russian President, noted on November 8 that Putin’s remarks about talks with the US do not imply a shift in Russia’s military objectives in Ukraine. Instead, Moscow’s goals remain unchanged.
“Putin may be attempting to posture himself as reaching out to Trump, but Putin is signaling to his domestic audiences that the Kremlin is unwilling to concede any aspect of its maximalist objectives in Ukraine or the wider global arena,” ISW stated.
"New world order"
Russian opposition outlet Meduza reported that the Kremlin instructed state and pro-Kremlin media on how to cover Putin's statements at the Valdai Discussion Club.
The directives instruct media to emphasize Russia's special role in shaping a proposed "new world order" and to portray Putin as the "world's greatest leader,” whose deep thinking, “breadth of political thought,” and role as the “voice of the global majority and new world order” set him apart from Western leaders, presumably including Trump.
According to Meduza, the guidelines do not include instructions for covering Putin’s statements regarding Trump or possible future talks with the US about the war in Ukraine. Putin largely directed his remarks at Valdai toward shaping Trump’s foreign policy and securing another reset in relations on Russia’s terms.
Trump's victory in US election
On Tuesday, November 5, Republican candidate Donald Trump won the US presidential election.
With the required minimum of 270 electoral votes, Trump currently holds 312 votes, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has 226.
In September, Trump stated that if he won the election, he would call Putin and Zelenskyy, and a peace deal to end the war between Ukraine and Russia would be reached within 24 hours.
Czech President Petr Pavel does not rule out that Trump might reach an agreement with the Russian president to end the war in Ukraine, though such a deal would not be in the interests of Ukraine or Europe.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan believes the war could end quickly if Trump is committed to diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has launched a diplomatic campaign to secure continued US support under a Trump presidency.
It is difficult to predict Trump's position on such an initiative after his inauguration.
