Putin congratulates Trump and invites him to talks on nuclear, Ukraine and avoid World War III

Open to talks on Ukraine and nuclear weapons states that in his congratulated message to him, who was sworn in on Monday (20.01.2025) as 47th President of the US. Russian president, Vladimir Putin congratulated the new US president, Donald Trump for taking office a few hours before the inauguration in Washington and said he is open to dialogue with the new American government for Ukraine and nuclear weapons. CORVERSE Putin, who said he wants to secure a long-term peace in Ukraine rather than a brief ceasefire, made these statements during a meeting of the Russian Security Council aired by state television. “We see the statements of the newly elected President of the United States and his group about the desire to restore direct contact with Russia,” Putin said. “We also hear his statement on the need to do everything possible to prevent the Third World War. We naturally welcome this attitude and congratulate the elected President of the United States of America on taking office.” CORVERSE Putin’s statement reflects the restrained hopes in Russia that Trump may be able to start restoring relations between Washington and Moscow, which have fallen to their lowest level since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, even when many Russian government officials publicly state that they realize that these hopes may not succeed. Putin, who usually holds the Security Council meetings on Fridays rather than Mondays, said Russia is open to talks with the new government on a number of international key issues, as he said, including nuclear equipment and security and the conflict in Ukraine. Trump has promised to quickly end the war in Ukraine, although he has not explained exactly how he will do so. Putin has previously stated that he is ready for talks, but that Russia’s territorial gains and claims must be accepted, which the Ukrainian leadership has rejected as unacceptable capitulation. ‘long-term peace’ “As regards the very resolution of the situation (in Ukraine), I would like to stress that the goal should not be a brief ceasefire, not a period of rest that would allow the re-establishment and re-arming of forces, but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people and all peoples living in the region,” Putin said. He also said Moscow is ready to discuss nuclear weapons control and broader security issues. The New Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Weapons, or New START, which limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can develop, as well as the development of missiles, land, submarines and bombers, is due to expire on 5 February 2026. This is the last remaining nuclear arms control pillar between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.