Putin Praises 'Courageous' Trump After Election Win, Says Russia Ready For Dialogue

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump for his victory in the US presidential polls and said that Moscow was ready for dialogue with the Republican president-elect. He also praised Trump for showing courage during the assassination bid on him. In his first public remarks since Trump's win, Putin said Trump behaved in a "very correct way, courageously, like a man.""I take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election," Putin said while speaking at the Valdai discussion club in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Thursday, reported Reuters. ALSO READ | 'You Can’t Love Your Country Only When You Win': Biden Assures Of Peaceful Transfer Of Power In 1st Speech After Trump WinThe Russian President also said that the remarks made by Trump during his campaign about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia "deserved attention". "What was said about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to bring about the end of the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, this deserves attention at least," said Putin.The Kremlin chief also said he was "ready" to discuss the issue with Trump. On Thursday, Trump had already said that he was prepared to speak with Putin, saying, "I think we'll speak." On being asked by Putin what he would do if Trump called to suggest a meeting, he said he was ready to resume contact if the Trump administration wanted that and was ready for discussions. However, during his address Putin also gave a note of caution: "I do not know what is going to happen now. I have no clue."ALSO READ | North Korean Soldiers Deployed By Russia Engage In First Clash With UkraineWhile campaigning for the election, Trump had said he could bring peace to Ukraine within 24 hours if elected but has not elaborated on how he would seek to end the war, the largest in Europe since World War II. Notably, Putin made the remarks about Donald Trump's victory after the Kremlin said Putin had no plans to congratulate Trump. "I'm not aware of any plans [for President Putin] to congratulate Trump," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "Don't forget that [America] is an 'unfriendly country' which is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state," he added. Russia has been widely accused of meddling in the 2016 presidential election to boost Trump's campaign against Hilary Clinton, a charge Moscow has denied. US Special Counsel Robert Mueller probed the allegations of collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia in 2016 but said in a report three years later that there was no evidence of conspiracy.