Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed high respect for U.S. President Donald Trump during a press conference in Minsk, Belarus, on the sidelines of the June 27 EAEU summit. “I hold the incumbent President of the United States in the highest regard. His path to returning to power and to the White House has been exceptionally arduous, complex, and hazardous—a fact of which we are all cognizant, particularly given the assassination attempts he has survived, indeed multiple attempts on his life. He is a courageous man, that much is evident,” he said in response to a Kommersant reporter, who asked Putin if he considered it timely to have a face-to-face meeting with Trump. “Naturally, we highly value both his domestic policies and his endeavors regarding the Middle East situation, as well as his efforts toward resolving the Ukrainian crisis. I have previously articulated this position and wish to reaffirm it publicly: I am convinced that President Trump is genuinely committed to resolving the issue on the Ukrainian track.”
“I have consistently maintained openness to dialogue and meetings. I am aware President Trump has similarly referenced potential discussions,” Putin said in reference to a possible meeting. “Like him, I contend such encounters require meticulous preparation and must yield tangible new milestones in cooperation. Overall, thanks to President Trump, Russian-American relations are demonstrating initial stabilization, at least to some extent. Not all issues in diplomatic relations have been resolved, but the first steps have been taken, and we are moving forward.”
Putin also pointed to progress in restoring U.S.-Russian relations. “We have established operational contacts between respective agencies—notably between the Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside coordination between our security services, which is also very important,” he said.
