President Vladimir V. Putin on Monday mentioned American corporations might do profitable enterprise offers in Russia and even assist mine uncommon earths in Russian-occupied Ukraine, additional amplifying the Kremlin’s message to President Trump that there was cash to be comprised of a greater relationship with Moscow.
Mr. Putin, talking in an interview with Russian state tv that was launched late Monday, mentioned that Russia had an “order of magnitude” extra of uncommon earth metals than Ukraine and that Moscow was “able to work with our overseas companions, together with the Individuals,” in growing these deposits.
He mentioned the invitation utilized to Russian-occupied Ukraine, as properly, and added that American corporations might additionally “make good cash” by serving to to develop aluminum manufacturing in Siberia.
“There’s something to consider right here,” Mr. Putin mentioned, referring to aluminum, “in addition to about joint work on uncommon earth metals and in different areas, for instance, vitality.”
The interview confirmed Mr. Putin working arduous to attraction to Mr. Trump’s curiosity in earnings and deal-making. It got here as Mr. Trump has swung American overseas coverage in Mr. Putin’s favor at dizzying velocity, as underscored by the USA siding with Russia in votes on the United Nations on Monday concerning the struggle in Ukraine.
Mr. Putin praised Mr. Trump’s current feedback a few potential deal through which the USA, Russia and China would halve their protection budgets.
“It appears to me that the concept is nice: America would cut back by 50 p.c, and we might scale back by 50 p.c, and the Individuals’s Republic of China would then take part if it desires,” Mr. Putin mentioned. “We expect that the proposal is nice and are prepared for discussions on this matter.”
However the interview additionally confirmed that Mr. Putin seems to be in far much less of a rush than Mr. Trump to finish the struggle in Ukraine. Russia continues to slowly acquire floor on the battlefield, whereas Ukraine struggles with a dearth of personnel and uncertainty about the way forward for American help.
Mr. Putin mentioned there was little dialogue concerning the struggle in his Feb. 12 name with Mr. Trump and final week’s assembly between American and Russian officers in Saudi Arabia — a cautionary notice concerning the prospects for imminent peace in comparison with current statements from Mr. Trump, who has mentioned that the struggle might finish inside weeks.
“We touched on issues associated to the Ukraine disaster, but it surely itself was not substantively mentioned,” Mr. Putin mentioned of the current talks between the USA and Russia. “We solely agreed that we’d transfer towards this.”
Requested by the reporter for Russian state tv whether or not Mr. Trump was enjoying into Russia’s fingers, Mr. Putin mentioned no and praised the American president for utilizing “a rational strategy to the present state of affairs.”
“He’s in a singular place,” Mr. Putin mentioned. “He doesn’t merely say what he thinks, however he says what he desires.”
Mr. Putin mentioned Mr. Trump was proper in attacking President Volodymyr Zelensky for the dearth of elections in Ukraine throughout martial regulation — a stance that Mr. Putin has pushed for months, calling Mr. Zelensky an illegitimate president.
In a brand new speaking level, Mr. Putin appeared to claim that Ukraine’s rightful president must be Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s high navy commander for the primary two years of the struggle who’s now ambassador to London.
Mr. Putin mentioned Common Zaluzhny was twice as widespread as Mr. Zelensky inside Ukraine, with out offering the supply for his figures. Polling does present Mr. Zelensky trailing Common Zaluzhny in a hypothetical presidential election, however by a lot nearer margins.
Mr. Putin mentioned Mr. Zelensky would have “completely no likelihood of successful the elections” towards Common Zaluzhny. Mr. Putin referred to the overall as “Mr. Zaluzhny,” a notable courtesy on condition that Mr. Putin nearly by no means pronounces Mr. Zelensky’s identify in public.