Putin Ready to Talk to Trump to End War

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that he was ready to compromise over war with Ukraine and enter into talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to end war, according to reports of news organisations. Putin, however, has made it clear that Russia was not in a weak position which might make it go for a compromise with the U.S. over the war.

"We have always said that we are ready for negotiations and compromises," Putin has been quoted by news organisations as saying. “We are ready, but the other side needs to be ready for both negotiations and compromises."

President-elect Trump, in his election campaign, had said that he would end Russia-Ukraine war soon after he entered office. But he never said how he will do so. Russian President Putin, on the other hand, had tersely said that he wanted Trump to win the election. The two men, however, has not spoken for years, according to a statement by Putin.

Russia, after the Syria incident, has gone on backfoot in the Middle-East, but not so much on its Ukraine war. The high-profile assassination of Russia nuclear and chemical wing chief Igor Kirillov is another incident that has deeply impacted Russia—though all these may not be reason enough for Russia to be weak and to rush to compromise for the end of war.