President Vladimir Putin has commended President Donald Trump and the current United States administration for paying attention to Russia’s stance on the war in Ukraine.
He spoke in Beijing, China, on Tuesday during a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, SCO.
President Trump hosted President Putin at a summit in Alaska last month as part of efforts to end the 42-month war, the largest and deadliest in Europe since World War II.
Putin noted that his recent conversations with Trump and officials of the US government “have shown that the new administration listens to us.”
The president, who sounded optimistic about the possibility of mutual understanding, assured that his country is pleased with peace talks and hopes that constructive dialogue will continue.
He recalled how Russia expressed its concerns during engagements with the Joe Biden administration, saying nobody wanted to listen nor wanted to hear.
Putin reiterated his position that the conflict in Ukraine did not occur because of Russia’s aggression, blaming the situation on “the West’s encouragement” of a state coup.
The Russian leader, however, expressed his dismay over purported plans to invade some countries in Europe, calling such claims total gibberish.
Dismissing the assertion of Russia’s “aggressive plans”, he declared: “I would like to emphasise that this is complete nonsense without any basis whatsoever.”
President Putin told President Fico that what has been going on are endless attempts to fuel hysteria over Russia’s alleged intention to attack a continent it was once part of.
Putin said reasonable people dismiss the accusation because they understand perfectly well that Russia has never had, and will never have, any desire to attack anyone.
Ukraine: Putin praises Trump, US administration for listening to Russia