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It would appear Russian President Vladimir Putin sees Donald Trump's reinstatement to the White House as a new era of reduced hostility between the two nations, as he congratulated the new president and emphasized the need to prevent a Third World War.
Knewz.com has learned that the Russian autocrat said during a meeting with the Security Council of the nation that Russia "welcomes" the Trump administration's desire to restore direct communication with the country.
Previously, the Russian President congratulated "Real man" Trump on his White House victory amidst concerns about what the win could mean for the future of the Ukraine war.
Congratulating the 78-year-old Republican candidate on his election win, Putin shared a statement, saying, "I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America."
According to reports, the Russian President also praised Trump for surviving multiple assassination attempts, calling the President-elect a "real man."
"He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageously, like a real man," Putin was quoted as saying.
It has been reported that Putin later made another remark regarding Trump, saying that "he felt as if Trump was 'bullied' during his first spell in the White House."
Speaking to his Security Council on January 20, Putin said that although the "pre-election period was not easy for US President-elect Donald Trump," he "displayed courage and won a convincing victory."
"According to [Putin], Russia welcomes the US president-elect’s commitment to preventing World War III and desire 'to restore direct contacts' with Moscow," it has been reported by Russian state media.
The Russian President added that the dialogue between the two countries must be grounded "in equality and mutual respect."
It is worth noting that not long ago, Putin had issued a chilling threat to Ukraine's Western allies—prompted by the Joe Biden administration's decision to allow Ukraine to use American missiles to strike targets deep within Russian territory.
One of the reasons Kremlin politicians seem hopeful about the Trump presidency, per reports, is their belief that a settlement facilitated by the Trump administration regarding the Ukraine war would go in Russia's favor.
Speaking of the future of the Ukraine conflict during the meeting with the Security Council and the communication with the United States administration regarding the same, Putin said:
"The most important thing there is to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, which we have talked about many times. This is the most essential thing."
"As for settling the situation, I want to stress that its goal should be to achieve a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all peoples living in that region rather than a short-lived truce, some respite for regrouping forces and rearming for the purpose of subsequently continuing the conflict, but a lasting peace based on respecting the interests of all individuals, all peoples, who live in the region," he further said, per the Russian state media outlet TASS.
It has been speculated that a settlement arranged by the United States administration would let Putin hold on to the territory annexed by the Russian forces and freeze the frontline where it stands right now.
However, anti-Putin activists have said that the Russian President could use these gains to mount a renewed assault and encroach deeper into Ukrainian territory in the future.