Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the United States on Thursday for seeking to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia in Ukraine and said a struggle was under way to shape a new world order as the Western-dominated post-Cold War era crumbled.
“The calls of the West to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, a country with the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, demonstrates the exorbitant adventurism of Western politicians,” said Putin.
Putin congratulated Trump on winning the US election and said he was “ready” to talk to the US president-elect, adding: “I was impressed by Trump’s behaviour during the assassination attempt. He is brave. I had the impression that Trump was bullied during his first term.”
On China, the Russian president said: “Moscow welcomes China’s stabilising role in Central Asia, which is also useful for Russia.”
