Russian President Vladimir Putin says that US President-elect Donald Trump’s success in the business world shows that he is an intelligent person who will adapt swiftly to his upcoming role.
“The fact that Trump managed to achieve success in business, suggests that he is a smart man…and as he is smart, that means he will fully and quite quickly be aware of a different level of responsibility. We assume that he will be acting this way,” said Putin during a Sunday interview with Russia’s NTV channel.
He also stressed that Trump was an “entrepreneur and a businessman” and that he is “already a statesman” and the head of one of the world’s leading nations.
Putin also referred to the current geopolitical situation, noting that he foresaw changes in Washington-Moscow relations in the near future.
“I believe that it is not a secret, everyone can see, that many of our partners prefer to refer to the principles of the international law, because the balance of power in the world is gradually being restored,” he added.
Earlier in the week, Putin said that his country did not want confrontation with other countries, while stressing that Russia needs friends not enemies.
“We are ready to co-operate with the new US administration. We have a shared responsibility to ensure international security,” he noted. “We understand the extent of our responsibility and are sincerely willing to take part in solving global and regional problems, of course, where our involvement is appropriate, necessary, and in demand,” he added.
While campaigning, Trump had said that Putin had “great control over his country” and was a better leader than US President Barack Obama.
He also said that as Putin had an 82-percent approval rating, “I think when he calls me brilliant I’ll take the compliment, OK?.”
As Trump prepares to enter the White House, ties between Moscow and Washington remain at the lowest point since the Cold War, most notably over the situation in Syria and Ukraine.