Putin congratulates Trump, says he’s ready to talk

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated President-elect Trump on his election victory and said he was ready to hold discussions with the incoming president. 

Putin made his remarks during a speech at the Valdai Discussion Club, a conference held in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, according to the Russian state-news site TASS.

Putin reportedly said he was impressed by Trump’s response to the assassination attempt in July, calling him a “courageous man,” and added he was ready to hold discussions with the president-elect.

The Kremlin said Wednesday that Putin was holding off on congratulating Trump.

Trump has boasted of having a friendly relationship with Putin and that he would call the Russian leader to end Russia’s war in Ukraine before inauguration day.