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Putin Open to Talks with Trump After Four Years, Willing to Compromise on Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2024. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Thursday that he hasn’t spoken to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in over four years, but he is “ready” for potential talks with him.

Speaking during his annual Q&A session on state TV, Putin told a reporter from a U.S. news channel that he was open to meeting Trump.

Putin also mentioned he was willing to make compromises over Ukraine in possible talks with Trump to end the war, adding that Russian forces were progressing toward their primary objectives on the battlefield.

We have always said that we are ready for negotiations and compromises,” Putin said, noting that Russian forces were advancing across the front and moving closer to their main goals in Ukraine.

Soon, those Ukrainians who want to fight will run out, in my opinion. Soon there will be no one left who wants to fight. We are ready, but the other side must also be prepared for both negotiations and compromises,” he added.

According to a Reuters report last month, Putin expressed openness to discussing a ceasefire in Ukraine with Trump, but ruled out making major territorial concessions and insisted Kyiv abandon its NATO membership aspirations.