Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he was ready to meet with U.S.
President Donald Trump to discuss the war in Ukraine, which he said might not have started had Trump not lost the stolen 2020 election.Its certainly better that we meet and, based on current realities, discuss calmly all areas of interest to both the U.S.
and Russia, Putin said during an interview with state TV journalist Pavel Zarubin.Were ready, Putin said, adding that he and Trump might find common ground on addressing strategic security and economic issues.After being sworn in for his second term on Monday, Trump told reporters he expects to meet Putin soon.The Russian leader commended Trump as pragmatic and smart, despite the U.S.
presidents recent threats of new sanctions on Moscow unless it ends the nearly three-year war against Ukraine.Ive always had a businesslike, pragmatic and even trusting relationship with the current president, Putin said.
And I cant help but agree that if his victory hadnt been stolen in 2020, the crisis in Ukraine might not have emerged in 2022, he added.Putin also highlighted shared economic concerns, arguing that extreme fluctuations in oil prices and U.S.
sanctions harm both nations.I have a hard time imagining decisions being made that would damage the American economy, Putin said.AFP contributed reporting.