“After Trump’s election win, Putin praised the former president as ‘courageous’.”

 Putin Congratulates Trump on Election Victory, Calls Him ‘Courageous’

Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, calling him a “courageous man.”

Speaking at an event in Sochi, Russia, the Russian president remarked that Trump was “hounded from all sides” during his first term in the White House.

Putin also acknowledged Trump’s claim that he could help end the war in Ukraine, saying it “deserves attention at least.” During his campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed he could end the conflict “in a day,” although he has never provided specifics on how this could be achieved.

In his lengthy address, Putin also commented on the assassination attempt on Trump in July, stating that it “made an impression” on him. After being shot, Trump defiantly punched his fist into the air and mouthed the words “fight, fight, fight,” before being rushed away by Secret Service agents.

“He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageously, like a man,” Putin said.

When asked if he was open to discussions with Trump, Putin responded, “We’re ready, we’re ready.”

Trump had already expressed his willingness to speak with Putin, telling NBC News on Thursday, “I think we’ll speak.”

The Kremlin was previously accused of interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton, allegations which Moscow has consistently denied. A subsequent investigation by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

At the European Political Community summit in Budapest on Thursday, leaders discussed Trump’s potential return to the White House. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described his conversation with the president-elect as “very warm” and “productive,” but stressed the importance of ensuring that future U.S.-Ukraine interactions are positive and fruitful.

Many in Ukraine and Europe are concerned that Trump may reduce or halt U.S. military aid to Kyiv if he takes office again in January.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reassured Zelensky at the summit that the UK’s support for Ukraine remains “iron-clad.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who previously celebrated Trump’s win by “tapping into the vodka supply happily,” said the U.S. and Europe now face difficult discussions on trade. A close ally of Trump, Orban noted that “the trade issue with the U.S. will come up and it will not be easy.”