Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his election win, calling him a “courageous man”.
Speaking at an event in the Russian city of Sochi, the Russian president said Trump was “hunted from all sides” during his first term in the White House.
Putin also said Trump’s claims that he could help end the war in Ukraine were “at least worthy of attention.”
During the campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly said he could end the war “in one day,” but never detailed how.
During Putin’s speech, which lasted several hours and covered a wide range of topics, he also addressed the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in July, saying it “left a deep impression” on him.
After being shot, Trump punched the air and shouted “fight, fight, fight” before being dragged away by Secret Service agents.
“In my opinion, he acted very correctly and bravely, like a man,” Putin said.
Asked if he was ready for discussions with Donald Trump, Putin responded: “We are ready, we are ready.”
Trump already said on Thursday that he was ready to speak with Putin, telling NBC News: “I think we will talk.”
The Kremlin has been widely accused of interfering in the 2016 presidential election to boost Donald Trump’s campaign against Hilary Clinton, a claim Moscow denies.
U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller investigated allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in 2016, but said in a report three years later that he found no evidence of a conspiracy.
Getty ImagesElsewhere on Thursday, leaders of the European Political Community gathered in Budapest to discuss Trump’s return to the White House.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a “very warm” and “productive dialogue” with the president-elect.
“But we must do everything we can to ensure that the outcome of the interaction between Ukraine and the United States, Europe as a whole and the United States, is productive and positive,” he added.
Many in Ukraine and Europe worry that Trump could slow or even stop U.S. military aid to Kiev after taking office in January.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reassures Zelensky at summit Britain’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia remains “ironclad”.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who previously said he celebrated Trump’s victory by “happily exploiting the vodka supply,” said the United States and Europe now face difficult trade negotiations.
Orban, a close ally of Trump, said at a press conference that “trade problems with the United States will arise and it will not be easy.”
Before Trump won the election, he said he would impose a 10% tariff on all imported products.
“Both sides agreed that Europe should take greater responsibility for its own peace and security in the future. Frankly speaking, we cannot expect the Americans to be the only ones looking after us,” Orban said.
