Putin left out: Western leaders halt regular calls
Western leaders have stopped calling Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin announced this during a session at the Valdai International Discussion Club.
Many reports provided by Russian media or government officials are elements of propaganda. Such information is part of the information war conducted by the Russian Federation.
According to Putin, this situation occurred "suddenly," although conversations used to happen regularly. "Western leaders called me almost every week for a certain period, and then suddenly stopped," Putin stated.
He added that he has nothing against resuming dialogue if Western leaders wish to do so.
- If any of them wish to renew contacts, I have always said and want to emphasise once again: we have nothing against it. By all means, we will resume contacts and hold discussions - the Russian leader declared.
Putin congratulated Trump on his victory
On Thursday—also during the club session—Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential elections. It was his first public comment on the American elections.
"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate (Trump) on being elected President of the United States of America," Putin said during a question-and-answer session.
On the same day, President-elect Donald Trump stated on NBC television that he expects to have a conversation with Vladimir Putin and that he had spoken with "probably" 70 other leaders.
Valdai International Discussion Club
The Valdai International Discussion Club is a Russian think tank and discussion platform founded in 2004. It analyzes global political, economic, social, and cultural issues. Its annual forums and conferences attract scholars, analysts, journalists, politicians, and opinion leaders from various countries. These events provide opportunities to exchange views on topics concerning Russia and the world at large.
The club was named after Lake Valdai in Russia, where one of the first meetings took place. Its activities are often seen as a way to promote the Russian perspective in international debate and dialogue on global politics. The Valdai Club also organizes meetings regularly attended by Putin, giving these events significant importance in Russian media and international politics.
